What should I do if my ex kidnaps my child?

While many parents are afraid of a stranger abducting their child, this horrible nightmare can turn into a reality for some, except the kidnapper is the child’s other parent. Parental abductions are more common than most people realize, and it’s important to understand how to handle these situations when they are part of a larger custody dispute.

When a parent kidnaps a child, it can be tempting not to get the authorities involved. Often the family will want to try to reason with the person and try to get the child back. However, these situations can be much more serious than they first appear, and desperate people can make very bad decisions in the spur of the moment. Contacting the police and a family law attorney can help get the child back safely as soon as possible.

Sometimes, when one parent is facing losing custody of the child or a significant drop in visitation time, the parent can get desperate and believe that the only way to see the child is to take the child and leave the area. It’s important to understand that this is never a good idea and can have significant repercussions, both criminally and in the family courts, later on.

The courts do not look favorably on a parent who does not go through the proper channels to address a custody issue. If you are worried about losing custody or not being able to see your children, the best thing to do is speak with a family law attorney about your situation as soon as possible.

Source: FindLaw, “What Legal Remedies are Available if a Parent Abducts a Child?,” accessed July 17, 2015

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