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International Kidnapping: Prepare for the Worst

The process is over, and you have been awarded sole legal and physical custody. Your ex-wife has visitation rights with the children, and you are frightened that they kidnap them to their home country of Cyprus. What can you do? Since the Green Berets say, plan your work and your plan.

First, the issue of children's U.S. passports. I hope that the sentence contains a provision that the children are the passports to be surrendered to the court or a particular party, in this case, the decision to the Office for Children's Affairs ( "OCI"), a Division U.S. State Department (1-202-736-9124). OCI then stop by the office of the passport. If there is no provision for the surrender of the children's passports, a request should be based on OCI, to the children in the name of the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program Aussichtsturm system so that you or your attorney by the State Department a passport for your Registration children.

Secondly, you should certain that as much identifying information as possible about your children. Children of school age a Smile Safe Kids card with a photo, if their photo is on the school picture day. Life Touch Portraits can this service. However, it is also important to have a current photo of the child, and a list of unique features such as scars or birth marks ... Police Departments will be fingerprints and most Pediadentists and dentists have the opportunity to iDENTtAkit for some of the children's DNA. These kits are also from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (1-800-THE-LOST). Another, even more difficult, option is to have a piece of the child's hair with the follicle attached.

Thirdly, the important papers for the children in one place, including the decision under which a sole custody gets to you and the child's birth certificate. Fourthly, you should as much information about the other parent is collected as possible. A recent photo is very helpful. You can be creative, to those by the other parent for a photo of the child in the room or a school. They should provide information on all contacts, the other parent is with any other country, including names, addresses and telephone numbers.

Fifth, you should take some time reviewing the websites for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.ncmec.org) and the OCI (http://travel.state.gov/family.com) Both sides are filled with helpful information, including the direction to other resources in connection with specific questions and concerns.

Finally, you should take substantial numbers, even your attorney, the numbers (office and cell), the local police and the FBI should. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is an extraordinary resource, and you have their number and check it before every kidnapping to discuss how they can help if the children are taken, and what precautions they advise.

Leigh Joy Carson, St. Louis Family Law Attorney