Family Law

Can One Parent Hide A Child From The Other Parent?

By Ben Stevens

I recently had someone ask me (a) whether a mother can move her child away from South Carolina without letting the father know the child's whereabouts and (b) whether there would be any consequences for her doing so. 

My initial response was simply to shake my head in disbelief that someone could even ask such a question.  Will there be consequences for a mother taking a child away from its father and refusing to let the father know where the child is? YES -- unless the father simply does not care, there will certainly be repercussions for the mother's conduct. 

The father can choose to file a contempt action against the mother (if her move results in the father being denied his ordered visitation).  He can also file an action seeking a change of custody based not only on the mother moving the child outside of SC, but also upon her attempt to alienate him from his child.

Full post as published by SC Family Law Blog on August 29, 2008 (boomark / email).