Legal Question in Family Law in Massachusetts

There is no exact amount of time that constitutes "abandonment." So much more information is needed for an assessment. Is there an order in place? What was his involvement with the children before?, etc. If you are trying to obtain a court order for sole legal custody, his lack of involvement is certainly a significant factor. For child support, if there's an order in place and he's not paying, he's in contempt. If there is no order in place, you must file a complaint to begin a proceeding - or contact DOR for help. If custody is an issue you want to address, it's usually more efficient to address custody and support together.