The State Bar of Texas’s 50th Annual Advanced Family Law Course occurred in San Antonio from August 5-8, 2024. This event is considered the most extensive Continuing Legal Education (CLE) program in the nation specifically designed for family lawyers. It was an excellent opportunity for networking, learning, and celebrating 50 years of advancements in family law practice. It offered a variety of sessions, including deep dives into specific areas of family law, and around 2,000 legal professionals attended it.
Firm managing partner, Laura Dale, presented “Abduction Prevention Measures and What to Do When They Fail” on August 7 at 4 p.m. The well-attended session was highly informative, providing some nuts and bolts details about this topic, which was based on Dale’s extensive work on this challenging but crucial legal issue.
A complicated family law issue
Stranger abductions are rare. In reality, a parent is usually responsible. Non-custodial parents and family members are responsible for 90% of all child abductions, which adds up to a total of 4% of all minor children. The circumstances of each abduction are unique, but modifications or restrictions to visitation rights trigger 65% of parental or family abductions. Biological dads are responsible for 53% of all parental abductions. Unfortunately, custodial parents report just 86% of parental or family abductions. Parents who abduct the children typically intend to alter the current custody arrangement.
Parents can work with family law attorneys like Laura, who have a strong background in parent-child abductions and can help provide additional resources for fighting back against the other parent’s illegal and damaging transgressions.
