Parental Kidnapping

The act of one parent illegally taking a child.

The act of one parent illegally taking a child in violation of court order.
The federal Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act requires states to cooperate with each other in returning children kidnapped by a parent. The United States, along with approximately 35 other countries, are signatories to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This treaty is similar to the federal law except it is limited to signatory countries.