Animosity between two Ohio parents may sometimes affect a child custody case to the point that one parent will move out of state or even out of the country as a tactic to keep the other parent from seeing the child. Because child custody laws in each state vary, the attempt to enforce some terms of an existing agreement can be tricky when more than one state is involved. That is the case of a woman whose boyfriend has left the state with their son.
Over a year ago, the mother was sentenced to a probation period of 30 months after she entered a guilty plea to meth charges against her. Her ex-boyfriend, the father of their 4-year-old son, was granted custody of the boy. Just weeks later, he and the child moved out of state. He claims his ex abused the boy while their son was in her custody.
The mother is now asking her local county judge to issue an arrest warrant for her ex so he will have to bring the boy back to her state of residence. So far, he has ignored five judicial orders to return the boy, has missed a court appearance and has recently been found in contempt of court. A month ago, the mother had traveled to the other state to get her son herself, but the ex had requested a review of a ruling stating the mother’s state had jurisdiction in that particular case and no decision had been made at the time. The father now has a limited amount of time to bring the boy back to the mother, and when he does, he will be arrested with bond set at $25,000.
Many parents who choose the course of action of running away with a child feel justified for one reason or another. Whether their rationalization is valid or whether it is a malicious act, working outside the boundaries of the legal system is not advisable. Ohio parents who feel overwhelmed in a child custody battle need an experienced family law attorney who will fight for the best interest of the child.
