It is a more common situation than many people think. A former spouse or partner takes the children and moves them to an unknown location, leaving the other parent unaware of where the kids are and if they are OK.
If you are worried there is a fair chance your ex-partner could attempt to take your children away from you, there are some legal options available to you. The following actions could help you prevent parental kidnapping from hurting your family:
- Always have information about your former partner’s relatives, friends or business partners, who you can contact in an emergency.
- Keep records of important identifying information of your ex-spouse or partner, including Social Security number (if possible), bank account information, driver’s license number, passport number, photographs, license numbers and vehicle information.
- Always have up-to-date photographs of your children. With the rise of smartphones, this is easier than ever.
- Have your children fingerprinted at your local police department so these prints can be submitted to other states or counties if the need arises.
- Teach your children how to use the phone and have them memorize your phone number. Tell them they should call you if they are scared or if anything strange happens.
Hopefully, you will never actually have to make use of these preventive actions, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry. To learn more about your legal rights if you believe your children are in danger, consult a skilled Minnesota family law attorney with Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
