International child custody dispute resolved, for now
One of the more complex types of child custody disputes involves international parental abductions. In such cases, one parent takes it upon themselves to leave the United States with their child or children with plans to make a new home in a foreign country.
This may typically arise when parents are struggling in their marriage and are separated or in the midst of a divorce. In such instances, many times the children are already living with only one parent, so to leave the country may seem like an easy way to avoid a child custody dispute in the United States.
This is what happened to one father who was recently reunited with his daughter. Eight years ago, his estranged wife took their four-year-old daughter to the Philippines, her home country, with no plans to return.
The father never lost hope of seeing his daughter again. Instead, he pursued his parental rights and currently has gained child custody of his daughter. His wife was charged with abduction, but still is apparently hoping win back custody of their daughter.
This story is not unique. Many other parents, including some in Colorado, may be facing similar situations. Obviously, it is not in the best interest of children to be separated from one parent for such a long period of time, nor for their lives to be disrupted with such a drastic move as from the United States to the Philippines and vice versa.
In this case, it will naturally take some time for the father and daughter to become reacquainted and to try to make up for precious lost time. Hopefully they can do so without the fear that they will be separated again in the near future.
Source: The Baltimore Sun, “Eight years after daughter\’s departure, a father is reunited,” Kevin Rector, July 20, 2012′
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