Child abduction
Child abduction is when someone illegally takes, hides, or keeps a child away from the person who is supposed to have custody. This includes taking a child during a custody court case before a judge has decided anything, not returning a child after a visit out of state, hiding a child for money, keeping a child in Missouri for 30 days after removing them from another state without permission, or moving a child away to block another person's custody or visitation rights without written permission. This is a class E felony, and a judge can also order the person to pay back any money the rightful parent or guardian spent trying to find or get the child back.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
565.156. — . — 1. A person commits the of child abduction if he or she:
(1) Intentionally takes, detains, , conceals or removes a child from a parent after being in an or but prior to the of a determining ; or
(2) At the expiration of outside the state, intentionally fails or refuses to or impedes the return of the child to the in Missouri; or
(3) Conceals, detains, or removes the child for payment or promise of payment at the instruction of a person who has no to custody; or
(4) Retains in this state for thirty days a child from another state without the of the legal custodian or in violation of a valid of custody; or
(5) Having of the child a valid court order, removes, takes, detains, conceals or entices away that child within or without the state, without , and with the intent to the custody or visitation rights of another person, without obtaining written consent as is provided under section 452.377.
2. The offense of child abduction is a .
3. Upon a for an offense under this section, the court may, in addition to or any sentence or fine imposed, as against the and in favor of the legal custodian or parent, any reasonable expenses incurred by the legal custodian or parent in searching for or returning the child.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1988 H.B. 1272, et al. § 3, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.