The number of international marriages, where one partner is from a country different than their spouse, are on the rise in the U.S., which can raise unique issues when a couple decides to separate or divorce.
If someone were to find themselves in this unfortunate situation, there are some important factors to keep in mind. While the abducting parent/spouse may have violated the laws of the country they left, it may not be the case that they have violated the local/national laws of the country they have fled to. In fact, many countries either do not have laws regarding international custody disputes or merely turn a blind eye when it happens.
It is not only important for parents to understand their rights and legal options in advance, but to act immediately if they suspect an ex-spouse has left the country with the children not intending to return. If you have an international child custody issue, contact the international child custody law offices of Ronald L Bell & Associates LLC for help at 847-495-6000.
Some point to Japan as an example where there was little in the way of legal recourse for a non-Japanese parent to reunite with their children after their ex took the children and returned to Japan. This phenomenon, in fact, was so common that those subject to this practice were commonly known among Japanese citizens as “left behind parents”. Only recently, in 2014, did Japan enter into the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspect of International Child Abduction, obliging the prompt return of abducted children the country of habitual residence, but certainly parents may be in for an uphill battle to make the law stick.
Throughout the world, countries maintain distinct legal (or otherwise) practices when it comes to child abduction and the rights of the parents involved. When your spouse leaves the country with your children, seek help from a child custody attorney as soon as possible. contact the international child custody dispute lawyer Ronald L Bell & Associates PC for immediate assistance with your custody issue.