PROMOTION Caught in the middle Grace Bradley, award-winning solicitor at The Family Law Company considers a recent case of parental child abduction he catastrophic effects of WHAT COULD THE FATHER DO TO hadnt pressed for the children's return in the USdespite knowing their and the need to act swiftly Alaska and England are signatories address. The judge also commented when it occurs became tothe 1980 Hague Convention on the on how emotionally damaging the very clear in a recent case involvi Civil Aspects of International Child situation was for the chikdren, cut off two British children "abducted" to Ahduction, whichexists to securethe noly from theirfather buat also their parental child abduction RECOVER THE CHILDRENT Alaska.The Britishparents separated swifreurnolabductedchildren. The mother, now in custody in England. in 2012 and the two children lived fathercould have issaed urgern Hague The court later determined that with their mother. She met her pcoceedings in the US: insteadin 201s the Alaskan courts should decide new partner, an American settled and 2016 heobtalnedorders fromthe any future residence/contact issues in Alaska, became pregnant and English family courts and reported asthe chidrenhad beensettledthere married him. She sought permission his ex-partner to the police for the for almost 3 years. criminal act of child abductios. Act quickly if you suspect H child abduction may occur WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY HOW DID THE SCENARIO PLAY OUT? CHILDREN HAVE BEEN OR MIGHT or has happened natonyur In April 2018, the mother was Act quickly if you suspect child or has happenea extraditedto England toccrminal abduction mayoccurorhashappened proceedings for her actions. The Child abduction proceedings from the English courts to relocate children remained in Alaska cared are complex and fast-moving. As the children to Alaska, which was for by their step-father. The English specialists, The Family Lan Company refused. Despite this she took the High Court considered whether the actsor mothers or fathers on either orders previously made in the father's side ofthe case,offeringfast, pragmatic favour should stand, inclading one advice, whatever the circumstances permitting him to fetch the children The Family Law Company and When one parent takes achild from from Alaska and take interim care o Grace Bradley are on the Official the countryof itseveryday resiklence them if the mother was detained by Solicitor and Public Trustee and REUNITE panel of child abduction with "rights of custody" or without The judge discharged the orders solicitors. Contact Grace at grace. the consent of the cour, this is they had been overtaken by time. bradley@thefamilylawco.com for children to Alaska in 2015, WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY without the consent of all those the police. wrongful removal. events and the fact that the father furtherinformation. Oriel House, Southemhay Gardens, Exeter EX1 INP 01392 421777 www.thefamilylawco.co.ui Balliol House, Southemhay Gardens, Exeter EX1 1NP