When a California married couple decides to divorce, things can get messy if they are also parents. When disputes regarding child custody arise, it can spark contention between former spouses. In fact, in some cases, one or the other parent may do something that appears drastic, such as taking a child out of the state against an existing court order.
A Walmart store in another state was recently the scene of a arrest when a child who had been missing from California for seven months was spotted at the store with a woman believed to be her mother. There was a warrant out for the woman’s arrest. When she and the child returned to the store for a second time, local police were called in. They arrested the mother and placed the child in protective custody.
It appears the woman was involved in a child custody dispute in California and did not have permission to take her child out of state. Police in this state say they had received a tip informing them that the woman had shopped at the Walmart that was located in Washington. Authorities contacted the store management, who then used surveillance footage to identify the woman. When she returned to the store, they immediately notified police.
California family court judges are most concerned with children’s well beings in child custody cases. It is unfortunate when parents disagree or refuse to adhere to the terms of a signed custody agreement. To avoid such problems, a concerned parent may rely on an experienced family law attorney to help protect his or her rights and children’s best interests.
