Taking your own child away without the permission of the other parent might not sound serious since, after all, you are your children’s parent. However, this act is called "parental kidnapping" and it is actually a serious offense.
Parental kidnapping is illegal in every state in the country, including the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands. If you are found guilty of parental kidnapping, then you could face steep consequences for removing your children from the custodial parent.
What Is Considered Parental Kidnapping?
Not only does parental kidnapping violate the other parent's custody and visitation rights, but it often seriously harms the children, often forcing them to live a life on the run as fugitives. In fact, abducted children are commonly coached into providing fake names and into not revealing any personal information such as birth dates, home states and addresses, and other information that might give away their true identity.
To avoid detection, the abducting parent might also move frequently with the children, which will impact the children’s social relationships, school performance, and possibly medical treatment.
While this might have begun as a custody dispute, the impact of parental abduction is traumatic and psychologically scarring, especially in cases where the abducting parent might have brainwashed the children into believing that the other parent died or no longer loves them.
If you are frustrated or upset about your current custody or visitation rights, it might seem like taking your children is the last and only option available to you, but working within the family court system to address these concerns is the only effective way to accomplish while preserving the well-being of your children.
Parental Kidnapping in California – Call a Lawyer
Nothing is more important to you than your children and, understandably, child custody is often one of the most contentious and emotionally distressing issues you will face in the process of divorce.
At Family Law San Diego, our attorneys have decades of collective experience that we will put to work for you. Our team of attorneys are dedicated to working with our clients to protect their futures and will work toward creating a custody agreement that is innovative, creative, and upholds your child’s best interests.
Contact our firm today at (619) 577-4900 to schedule a consultation. We have staff fluent in Spanish, Arabic, and Aramaic.
