Posted by Cris on 1/05/11

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My 7 year old daughter was born in the US and the mother
and I were never married. We lived together for one year
after her birth. Both the mother and myself are citizens of
Argentina. After we split, the mother went back to our
native country with our daughter. She had my verbal
permission.
I sent the amount of money per month that we had verbally
agreed upon and kept in contact with the mother to keep in
touch with our daughter. I wired several thousand dollars
to my daugher's mother so that she could buy a house for
the two of them. According to the mother, everything was
fine in Argentina with our daughter and her upbringing.

Fast forward to one year later, I return to my native
country with my (new)fiance for a visit. Contrary to the
mother's reports- the child is living in impoverished
conditions with biological mother and boyfriend + family
(she "lost" the money for the house in a sour deal
supposedly), the child has a persistant cough and hasn't
seen a doctor, has mold on her clothing, and a scabby rash
all over her torso.
I end up staying a few months in Argentina with my fiance,
the biological mother allows us to have 50% custody. We
address medical issues and buy some new clothes. When it is
time for us to go back to the US, we convince the
biological mother that our daugher would be best with us,
until she can get back on her feet. This agreement is made
verbally.
Fast forward 4 more years and the mother has never been
able to "get back on her feet". From time to time she
requests that I bring back our daughter but since she is
unable to even support herself, I have not complied. She
does not sent money or ask to speak with her daugher. Today
she told me that she was going to Interpol and would be
starting legal proceedings to have our daughter returned to
her. I definately do not think this is in our daughter's
best interest. She is currently doing well in school and
has a stable comfortable life with a loving family. Does
anyone have experience with this kind of international
family law? Is there any chance that the courts would send
her back to live with her mother?

Re: International Custody Issue, 1/24/11, by Jim Lewis.

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