Legal Question in Family Law in Texas

Parental Kidnapping

We have lived, working with the US government, in Germany for 20 months. My wife took our two small children on vacation to Virginia, and decided she may not return. She filed for a divorce in Texas, our last residence, but has '' put the divorce on hold.'' She has gone to Texas in an attempt to establish temporary residence..renting a house, car, phone. She got a job back with her former employer, and put the oldest child into a Kindergarten (the child is still enrolled in the school in Germany) Could this be considered Parental Kidnapping? I do not concur with the removal of the children.


Asked on 4/21/01, 2:42 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jean Sudduth Jean Sudduth, Attorney at law

Re: Parental Kidnapping

No, this is not parental kidnapping. You are both entitled to take the children. You need to have court orders in order to have kidnapping. You say that she has filed for divorce but now has that on hold. I do not know how one "puts a hold" on a divorce but I do know how one person can mislead another and wind up with a default divoce that will take many many thousands of dollars to fight at some later date. I suggest you get a lawyer in Texas to represent you in the divorce and make sure that if you have been served, an answer is filed. You need help.

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Answered on 6/14/01, 4:28 pm


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