Legal Question in Family Law in California

If there are no custody orders, either parent can do whatever they can get away with, for the most part. Removing the children from the country without the other parent's consent is illegal, since both parents much approve issuance of a passport and some visas. Unless the parent who is left without contact is a danger or harmful to the children or has engaged in domestic violence, however, taking the kids, moving and hiding the kids is a strong reason to give custody to the other parent once the courts are involved.