An international child custody dispute has turned into a kidnapping after the father took his youngest daughter out of her mother’s home and is still missing. The father has been accused of taking one of his daughters while his soon-to-be ex-wife was shopping. The babysitter watching the kids said the father forced his way in and tried to grab his children but was only able to take his youngest daughter out of the house with him.
The police have not issued an AMBER alert and said they do not believe the child is in any danger. However, they have issued a warrant for the father’s arrest. The couple is currently in an international child custody battle that is now much more complicated since the father has kidnapped one of their kids.
The international custody battle started after the couple decided to get divorced when the family was living in Singapore, where the father works. The father claims that the they were about to reach a divorce and child custody agreement when his wife took the children out of the country and to the U.S. to live with her relatives.
To make matters more complicated, the father is due in federal court to testify that his wife violated the international treaty when she moved the children out of Singapore and to the U.S. However, it may be difficult for the father to attend the hearing since he has a warrant out for his arrest. His attorney said that he is trying to find a way to allow his client to go to the hearing without being arrested.
This international child custody case is an example of the legal issues parents can face when they live in a different country and want to move back to the U.S. with their children after getting divorced. International child custody laws and treaties can be difficult to understand and it may be in everyone’s best interests to consult an attorney to discuss what options are available to resolve the custody dispute in the best possible way.
Source: CBS New York, “Greenwich, Conn. Becomes Ground Zero For International Custody Battle,” Aug. 27, 2013
