Originally Posted by Voldoo

Hello Flyertalk members. I truly apologize in advance if this post in any ways violates the forum rules regarding posting content.

I’m going through a very contentious divorce with my wife who is a non-U.S. citizen. In the middle of the dispute is our 2-year-old child, who is currently physically present in the U.S. (State of California). My wife is in possession of our son’s U.S. passport and I have valid concerns that she will attempt to leave the United States with our son and return to her home country which does not recognize the Hague Convention Treaty regarding child abductions. My only questions is this: will reporting my son’s passport lost or stolen ensure that he would not be able to board an international flight from the U.S.? Obviously the passport is not truly lost; my wife is in possession and could easily show up at an airport with that and other support documents indicating she is the mother and (one of two) current guardians of the child. The legal advice I’ve received is unsure on this matter so I was hoping that Flyertalk and it’s members may have some suggestions.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Originally Posted by CDTraveler

It's not uncommon for a court to order that a child who is the subject of a custody battle can not be taken out of the country. Discuss it with your lawyer, but you should file ASAP with the court asking for such an order, and that the other parent be required to surrender the child's passport to the court to prevent the child from being taken out of the country unlawfully.