Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Tennessee

Stolen property

A friend of mine let her best friend, which is the child's legal godmother, keep her child while she was in Iraq. She had come home temporarily and decided to let the father keep her son, who is stationed in Germany. The child's godmother has failed to return all of his belongings. Items such as: two passports, a social security card, birth certificate have not been returned to her. Is there any way she can retrieve these items from her child's godmother. My friend lives in Georgia and her former best friend, the child's godmother, lives in Memphis, TN. Is there anyway she can retrieve these items without having to travel back to Memphis? Also, if the godmother fails to give these items back to my friend, what can she do?


Asked on 1/12/07, 9:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Ms. Tran Lankford Tran Lankford, Attorney at Law

Re: Stolen property

You did not state whether the godmother had legally been given Temporary Guardianship/Custody of the child. If that was the case, then your friend would have to go to court to transfer the custody back to her. Assuming that there was no legal transfer of temporary custody, then your friend should start with JAG. JAG could possibly write the godmother a letter; most people do not like receiving such a letter, especially if it comes from the Military. JAG service is available and free to Military personnel. The other thing your friend can also do is contact the police for assistance. If the godmother has no legal custody of the child, then she would be forced to turn the items back to your friend. Even if your friend could go to TN to retrieve the items, it probably would be more prudent to have a police escort in case a fight occurs. If the godmother is also in the Military, that definitely could be handle internally within the Military. Additionally, your friend should enlist the help of her NCO, officers/superiors. The response is based on the limited information you have provided; it is best if you have any questions or doubts to contact an attorney.

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Answered on 1/13/07, 3:48 pm


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