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Parental Child Abductions in Chicago – Three Myths about Child Abductions in Chicago that May Put Kids at Risk

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There is no doubt that the various critical issues surrounding children can become the most controversial issues in a Chicago divorce case. Child custody (who will get to make legal decisions about the children, and who the children will live with), child support (monthly payments made to the custodial parent by the noncustodial parent in order to support the child financially), and parenting plans and schedules (the schedule upon which visitations with the noncustodial parent will be made) are all issues that may become extremely heated, even volatile, in a Chicago divorce. Unfortunately, for everyone involved, issues surrounding children, including child custody, do not always get resolved in a divorce case, and serious, even dangerous matters can develop even after a decree of divorce is entered. All of this can lead to a scary, and risky situation: the abduction of a child by their own, noncustodial, parent. There is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to parental child abductions that must be dispelled for the safety of Chicago children, and for the peace of mind of their parents. Accordingly, we discuss three myths surrounding parental child abductions in Chicago here.

Myth #1: A Biological Parent Cannot Abduct Their Own Child

It is false under Illinois laws that a parent cannot kidnap or abduct their own child. Indeed, in reality, Chicago parents who do not have custody of their children or child, and who abscond with them or otherwise violate a child custody order or visitation agreement, can be considered to have committed a parental kidnapping or parental child abduction.

Myth #2: Parental Child Abductions Rarely Ever Happen in Chicago – My Child is Not at Risk

The unfortunate truth of the matter is that child abductions committed by a parent are not all-too-rare in Chicago, and parental kidnappings happen far more often than Chicago parents may think. Indeed, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, in 2023, a whopping 59% of all AMBER Alerts that were issued involved a family abduction.

Myth #3: Parental Kidnappings and Abductions Should Stay “Private” among Family Members 

Finally, some Chicago parents and families may be under the impression that parental child abductions should be resolved between the parents, and remain private, rather than getting authorities involved. However, abducting, concealing, and kidnapping a child – even if the child is the person’s own flesh and blood – is unlawful, and may be charged criminally. The situation may be even more severe if a noncustodial parent takes their child overseas, committing an international parental child abduction.

Getting Legal Assistance in Your Parental Child Abduction Case

Parental child abductions are serious matters, and international parental child abductions can take an even more complex, dangerous twist. If you believe that your child was abducted by the child’s noncustodial parent, it is important to act immediately. If you are facing an international child abduction and you are in the Chicago area, contact the experienced Chicago international family law Hague Convention lawyers at Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC. Contact the experienced Chicago international family law Hague Convention lawyers at Arnoux Sharma Standeford, LLC today and get help with your case now.

Source:

missingkids.org/theissues/familyabduction

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