Legal Question in Family Law in Arkansas

Parental Kidnapping

I have a court order stating that I am supposed to have my son during odd years for Spring Break. I have brought my son's plane ticket in accordance with my decree and have been trying to confirm flight details with the mother - numerous voicemails were left but none have been returned. With less than 3 days before his arrival, she returns my call and says that she never received the messages and that she's taking him out of town. I Fed-Ex a copy of his plane ticket to her 5 days prior to his departure - in which she signed for - and yet she still says that he's going with her. Long story short - she will be traveling to another state and she plans on ignoring the court decree. Can I file contempt charges as well as have her picked up in the other state for Parental Kidnapping?


Asked on 3/19/09, 3:03 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Steele Steele Law Firm

Re: Parental Kidnapping

The best way to prevent this kind of thing is to get specific court orders, and when she violates them, have an attorney file a Petition for Rule, which would force her to explain herself to the judge. If the judge finds she was wrong, you will get your attorney's fees back, she will be punished, and she will learn to stop messing with the parenting time. Until you force her to do the right thing, she will continue. Our firm handles family law and we deal with this all the time, where the residential parent forgets that the child has a mother AND a father.

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Answered on 3/19/09, 3:55 pm


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