The problem of parental abductions

Nevada parents may be interested in an article discussing parental abduction issues. While courts will often grant orders to have the child returned, enforcement can be problematic.

Reports indicate that out of all child abductions in the U.S., around three-quarters of the children are taken by one of the child’s parents. When a parental abduction happens, the parent with custody generally obtains a court order to return the child. Even with the force of the judicial system behind it, enforcing the order can be very difficult. This is because the enforcement of these court orders requires the assistance of the police. Authorities, however, are often reluctant to put their officers at risk to carry out the order.

One attorney who has dealt with hundreds of these child abduction cases says that he was forced to contact the state attorney general’s office in order to get police officers to enforce a custody order. The police had initially refused his request due to the risk posed to officers in recovering the child. However, the attorney points out that the child will often be at greater risk if allowed to stay with the parent. In situations where a child has been taken by a non-custodial parent and will not respond to attempted communications, one of the first steps should be to petition the court for an injunction preventing the child from leaving the state.

When a parent has trouble with the other parent in a child custody dispute, an attorney may be of assistance. The attorney may be able to help with obtaining and enforcing a child custody order through the courts.

Source: KLAS-TV, “Parental abduction cases can prove hard to resolve“, Lauren Rozyla, July 11, 2014