divorce law: will courts let him take kids out of the country?

Submitted by iskra (United States), Jan 15, 2008 at 00:04

I am divorcing a Syrian-born American citizen. We have three small children together. He wishes to take the kids to visit his family in Syria this year and he would like to make it a regular thing (every year or two). He wants to soak them in Islam, Arab culture and language, and show them off to his family and have them know their little cousins. His heart has been set on this course for a long time.

I am worried, based on his past behavior, that he might someday take them there and not return them. He has lots of money, lots of family and connections. Syria does not have good relations with the US, and their child custody laws favor the father after divorce. If he stole the kids there, I would have very little chance of getting them back.

On the other hand, when I tell him that I won't let him take the kids there, he will be IRATE and it will cause great problems between us. He will probably take me to court to demand his right to take the kids abroad.

Has anyone here ever been in this situation? I spoke with a lawyer one time; he said courts generally would favor my ex's argument that he has the RIGHT to bring the kids around their grandparents and extended family. On the other hand, given the dangers, I can't believe they'll give him such power to kidnap with impunity.

Please reply, anyone who has knowledge of the law here.

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