The breakdown of a marriage is an inherently difficult situation. The more complex variables that are included in a divorce the more likely it is that a contentious situation may become combative. The most common complicated factors in divorce tend to involve money and children.
In the case of one New Jersey woman, the normal challenges of divorce are compounded because her estranged husband is not an American citizen and he has fled the country with their children. This New Jersey woman may have to navigate international law in order to reach a resolution in her divorce and ultimately bring her children back to the U.S.
A graduate student from the Middle East married the New Jersey woman in 2004 and they had three sons together. The father of the boys, during an approved visitation, left the United States with his children and went back to his home country just before Thanksgiving. The mother has been struggling to have her children returned to U.S. soil ever since.
The most pressing challenge this woman has is to enforce her custody rights. Any judgment awarded in New Jersey may not be binding or recognized in a foreign country.
In international child custody cases, the outcomes may hinge on whether or not the United States has an agreement with the other country’s government. In this case, the U.S. has not entered into a treaty with the father’s country.
In difficult circumstances like these, it is critical to have an experienced family law attorney by your side.
Source: Pennlive.com “Lycoming mother files for divorce from husband who took sons to Saudi Arabia” John Beauge, April 2, 2014
