Your divorce did not go smoothly, and there was much animosity. You know that your children deserve a comfortable, supportive life, so you’ve worked hard to keep your ex-spouse involved even though you have primary custody. Recently, he’s been talking more about how he wants to play a larger role in their care, and he’d like to share custody or take on primary custody himself.
You don’t understand the change in his actions, but one thing that worries you is that he has the money and the connections to kidnap your children. Your ex-spouse is aggressive toward you, and you think he would do anything to get back at you for the divorce.
If you’re worried about parental kidnapping, there are some things you can do to help prevent it. Here are a few tips to consider.
1. Talk to your attorney
Your attorney should be the first person you talk to about fears that your ex-spouse may kidnap your children. You can discuss why you believe this is possible and learn more about the legal options open to you. You’ll also start documenting your concerns, so if something does happen, you’ll have a history of pursing help against the situation.
2. Talk to your children
Your children need to know a few different things when you’re worried that they could be kidnapped. First, you can make sure your children know your phone number and home address by heart. You may also want to teach them how to call an aunt or uncle who is trustworthy. Talk to your children about when to call home. You don’t necessarily need to worry them by stating that you think their father could take them away. Instead, make sure they have the tools to reach out if they are taken without your knowledge.
Additionally, children should learn how to speak to police, how to call 911 and how to identify where they are. These tips are beneficial for any children, even those not in this situation.
3. Flag your passports
It’s a good idea to flag your children’s passports, so the airlines will not allow a child out of the country without both parents’ permission. This helps keep your children in the country even if they’re taken, which makes it easier for the authorities to track them and bring them home. Once children leave the country, it becomes increasingly difficult to bring them back.
If the worst does come to pass, you can work with the authorities to locate and bring your children home. Once they’re back in your care, you can take further steps to prevent a violation of your custody orders from occurring again.
Source: Nov. 30, -0001
