Parents who are faced with losing their right to maintain the care and custody of a child can become very emotional. This is understandable, as few things are more heartfelt than the love that a parent has for his or her child. When faced with a child custody fight, however, it is important that Florida parents act in ways that will support their end goals.
One mother recently made a series of decisions that were not in line with her long-term goals, and she is facing serious criminal charges as a result. The 23-year-old mother was in court to fight for custody of her 4-year-old daughter. She lost and, upon leaving the courthouse, went to the child’s bus stop and took the girl with her. The person who was supposed to pick the little girl up was unable to stop the mother and called police.
After investigating the matter, police issued an Amber Alert. The mother and daughter were located at the home of a family friend, just seven hours after the initial call to police. The mother was taken into custody and now faces charges that include unlawful imprisonment, endangering the welfare of a child, obstruction of governmental administration and custodial interference, among others.
As this case shows, it is easy to become so emotionally distraught over a child custody outcome that rash decisions are made. Had this mother abided by the court order and taken steps to bring her daughter back home, she might have been successful in a future custody hearing. Her recent actions, however, will likely make her custody fight much more difficult in the years to come. For Florida parents who are faced with a custody challenge, following the orders of the court and the advice of one’s attorney is critical for a favorable outcome.
Source: twcnews.com, “Amber Alert Called Off: Missing 4-Year-Old Found, Mother in Custody“, Mike Arena, March 10, 2017
