Experienced South Florida

FAMILY LAW
ATTORNEYS

Woman flees with child and faces prison for parental kidnapping

On Behalf of | Jul 13, 2017 | Child Custody

A child custody dispute can be difficult to live with, especially if you’re always concerned about your child being taken away by the other parent. No one should have to live that way, and the courts may order supervised visitation to make sure your child stays safe.

A woman has been indicted for taking her child to Florida against her custody order. According to the June 13 news, the woman, from Maine, had not seen her 9-year-old child in six years. The child’s other parent had primary custody, and the woman had weekend visitation.

The woman had allegedly convinced the primary custodian to allow an unsupervised visit over one weekend. That’s when she fled with the child, failing to return at the agreed upon time. The prosecution claims that the woman went to a military base in Florida, where she was staying with a relative.

In this case, there is a happy ending. The child was able to be collected by his or her custodial parent the following day after the parent flew to Florida. The mother was going to be extradited to Maine, but since that would be a significant cost, the attorneys decided not to do so. The woman bailed out of the Florida jail and now has an active warrant in Maine. The 30-year-old woman faces a charge of criminal restrain by a parent, which can carry penalties of a $5,000 fine and up to five years in prison if she is convicted.

Cases like this can be avoided by following court orders. If you fear your ex may leave with your child, speak up. There is help available.

Source: The Ellsworth American, “Woman indicted after taking child on Florida trip,” Jennifer Osborn, accessed July 13, 2017

Archives

The LAW OFFICES OF FORREST & Forrest, PLLC represents individuals in Fort Lauderdale in high-asset divorce matters. Daniel Forrest is board-certified family lawyer and mediator serving the South Florida area.

  • The Florida Bar | Board Certified | Marital & Family Law
  • AV Preeminent | Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Ratings
  • Super Lawyers | Rising Star | Daniel Forrest | SuperLawyers.com
  • Avvo Rating | 10.0 Superb | Top Attorney Family