Wisconsin woman takes child in custody dispute

A warrant has been issued for a Wisconsin woman’s arrest after she failed to return her son to his father in violation of the terms of a custody order. The woman, age 20, and her estranged husband, age 23, have been waged in a bitter child custody dispute over the three-year-old boy. The woman previously accused her husband of emotionally abusing her and of smoking marijuana in the presence of their son.

The boy was transferred to his mother’s care on February 20. She was supposed to return him to his father on February 26 but did not show. She also has not reported to her job at a Wisconsin Dells resort. The woman’s neighbors reported seeing a moving van at her home during the weekend of February 23. Authorities now suspect the woman has taken the boy to her native Uruguay or to Mexico. An international phone number was found taped to the woman’s refrigerator. When it was called, a man answered and denied the woman was there.

Under Wisconsin law, divorcing spouses may reach an agreement regarding the custody arrangements for their child. If they cannot agree, the court will decide where the child will live by applying the “best interests of the child” standard. Emotions can run high during a child custody dispute, but it is important to maintain control. A failure to cooperate can have serious consequences. If a parent violates the terms of a court order, not only will the parent’s custody and visitation rights be in jeopardy, the parent faces possible criminal charges as in the case of this Wisconsin woman.

When involved in a custody dispute, parents need not try to take matters into their own hands. Instead, seek the assistance of an experienced family law attorney. The attorney may be able to help work out a child custody arrangement that serves the child’s best interests.

Source: Baraboo News Republic, “Boy was subject of custody dispute,” Tim Damos, March 7, 2013