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Actress Kelly Rutherford ordered to court in custody dispute

On Behalf of | Aug 20, 2015 | Child Custody |

Ohio television fans may have heard that actress Kelly Rutherford was scheduled to attend an emergency hearing regarding her custody dispute in a Manhattan court on Aug. 11. It was reported that if she did not bring her two children to court with her, she could potentially be taken into custody.

The emergency hearing was reportedly requested by Rutherford’s ex-husband after Rutherford refused to send her children back to Monaco. Rutherford had stated that she had no legal obligation to return the two kids, ages 6 and 8, after a California court stated that it had no jurisdiction over the case. Rutherford argued that no U.S. court had the authority to make her send her children away.

Her ex-husband’s attorney argued that, by keeping the children, Rutherford was essentially kidnapping or abducting the children, which is a crime. Rutherford’s attorney, on the other hand, argued that Rutherford was trying to defend her children’s right to live in their home country. Additionally, Rutherford’s attorney argued that the custody arrangement that was made in 2012 was meant to be temporary. However, it has since been three years and Rutherford has reportedly made more than 70 trips abroad to see her children. A hearing was scheduled for September in a Monaco court.

Child custody disputes can be particularly messy, especially if both parents are fighting for sole or primary custody of the children. A parent who is going through one may want to have the assistance of a family law attorney when attempting to negotiate a resolution.

Source: New York Daily News, “Kelly Rutherford could face arrest if she doesn’t bring kids to emergency court hearing requested by ex-husband: sources“, Stephen Brown, Aug. 10, 2015

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