In Illinois and beyond, a parent who suspects that his or her child has suffered abuse at the hands of the child’s other parent can take steps to file for child custody in an effort to protect the child from further harm. A recent incident involved two parents who are engaged in a child custody battle. This particular case is unique in that the mother is living in the United States, but the father resides in a jurisdiction outside the nation’s borders.
There are two children in the family, a 7-year-old daughter and a 16-year-old son. Both parents and children had previously resided together in Mexico City. In August 2015, they traveled to the United States to visit relatives of the mother.
The father returned to the family’s home in Mexico City. He was expecting the mother and children to return on a later date. However, they remained in the United States. The mother claimed that she was doing so to protect her daughter from further molestation, which she believes the father had committed against her child.
The father filed a legal action to request that the court order his children to be returned to Mexico City. A district court held a three-day hearing and determined that the mother’s claim was valid and the daughter faced a potential grave risk if returned to Mexico City. A psychologist appointed by the court to interview the child stated that she exhibited behaviors typically suggestive of having been sexually abused. There may be parents in Illinois facing similar child custody issues who find themselves in need of legal support. Under such circumstances, one might choose to contact an attorney who has experience in issues pertaining to family law.
Source: blogs.valpo.edu, “Child Custody Battle From Over the Border“, Macey Albert, Nov. 6, 2015
