WEBVTT

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How can I stop my child from

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being taken to another state or

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another country?

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Seek urgent court safeguards

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before departure.

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If removal is happening now,

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contact law enforcement

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immediately.

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This is a United States

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overview.

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If there is immediate danger,

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call emergency services.

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If your child may leave the

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country imminently, contact

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local law enforcement and the

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State Department’s Office of

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Children’s Issues.

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Its prevention team is

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available around the clock.

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The number is on screen.

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Do not wait for a passport

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alert or a court appointment

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before reporting an immediate

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risk.

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Bring every custody, parenting

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and protection order to a

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family-law attorney.

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Explain where the child has

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lived,

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any pending case, and the

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proposed destination.

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Interstate jurisdiction rules

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determine which court can make

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or change custody orders.

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Emergency powers have specific

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conditions.

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Crossing a state line does not

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automatically transfer the

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case, and an ordinary travel

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disagreement is not

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automatically an emergency.

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Ask what safeguards the court

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can order in your

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circumstances.

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These may include limits on

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travel, passport surrender or

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control, supervised contact, or

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precise exchange arrangements.

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Explain the specific risk and

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the departure date.

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Follow local filing, evidence

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and notice requirements.

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An emergency request is not an

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automatic grant, and the court

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may set a prompt further

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hearing.

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Save messages describing

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threats or travel plans, lawful

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booking information, current

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orders, a recent child

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photograph and relevant

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passport details.

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Record dates and exact words.

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Distinguish what you know from

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what you suspect.

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Foreign citizenship or family

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ties alone do not prove an

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abduction plan.

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Give accurate information to

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your lawyer and authorities,

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without altering records or

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putting yourself in danger.

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For a United States citizen

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child under eighteen,

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ask about the Children’s

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Passport Issuance Alert

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Program.

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It can alert an enrolled parent

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or guardian to a United States

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passport application.

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It does not guarantee that a

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passport will be refused,

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block a foreign passport, or

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stop travel using a valid

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passport.

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Keep the program informed of

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current court orders and

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contact details.

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The United States has no

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routine exit control that

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ensures both parents have

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consented before a child

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leaves.

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If you know the airport or

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airline, promptly share the

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concern and relevant court

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orders with airport law

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enforcement or airline

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security.

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Contact the State Department

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prevention team as well.

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A clear order helps authorities

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assess what they can lawfully

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do;

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interception is not guaranteed.

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If your child is missing,

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report it to law enforcement

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immediately, then contact the

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National Center for Missing and

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Exploited Children.

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If the child is abroad, seek

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specialist advice and contact

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the Office of Children’s

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Issues.

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A Hague Convention return case

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can be available in qualifying

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situations, but it does not

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decide final custody or

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guarantee return.

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Do not attempt a dangerous

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recovery yourself.

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One:

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assess the immediate risk and

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contact the appropriate

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authorities.

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Two:

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preserve the evidence and ask a

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local family-law attorney about

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urgent orders.

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Three:

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give any new order to the

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relevant authorities and follow

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its terms.

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If you are escaping abuse, seek

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emergency protection and safe

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legal advice;

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this overview does not require

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an unsafe confrontation.

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Your lawyer must assess the

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actual states, countries and

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orders involved.

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For general legal information,

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Legal Hotline’s United States

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number is on screen.

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Read the full answer and

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official sources at Legal

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Hotline dot com, with a hyphen

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between Legal and Hotline.

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This is an information service,

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not a law firm;

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lawyer matching is separate.

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Immediate danger needs

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emergency help.