Children are easily one of the most important aspects to a parent’s life. Most Georgia parents will put their children at the top of their priority list and do anything they can to help insure they have a good life. But when factors such as divorce present themselves to a child’s life, many parents fear losing custody of their children. Some folks will act in the extreme and attempt to flee the country with their child. Recently a mother and daughter found themselves trapped in South America after an international custody dispute.
The 33-year-old mom and 6-year-old daughter had their passports seized after skipping out on visiting the 32-year-old father who had not seen his daughter in three years. After splitting in 2009, full custody was given to the mother while the father went to live in Brazil. After not seeing his daughter for over three years, he paid for a plane ticket for the 33-year-old mom and daughter to visit Brazil. The original plan was for the pair to meet the dad in a southern part of Brazil where he would spend time with his daughter before she eventually went back to America.
Upon hearing from a mutual friend that the dad planned to keep the daughter, the mother took the daughter to a northern part of the country to meet and stay with a boyfriend whom she met online. After not receiving his daughter, the dad called authorities where they later seized the passports of the woman and child. They are currently waiting for a child custody settlement to be made, until then they are stuck in Brazil.
Seldom does fleeing the country work in favor of the one escaping. For parents who are concerned with the custody of their children, an attorney may serve as a much more efficient way to settle an arrangement.
Source: NBC News, “American mom, daughter, 6, stuck in Brazil in child custody battle,” Bridget Murphy, July 5, 2013
