§ 30-3C-9 — Hearing on Petition to Prevent Abduction

Alabama § 30-3C-9

• Jurisdiction: Alabama
• Title 30: Marital and Domestic Relations
• Ch. 3C: Alabama Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act

Text

(a) If a petition is filed under this chapter, the court may set a preliminary hearing as necessary, and shall cause to be issued all summonses and notices as required by law and otherwise deemed necessary and appropriate. Should the court determine from the petition, or on evidence presented at a preliminary hearing, that no emergency or temporary orders are appropriate, then the court shall set the petition for a final hearing at such time as the court deems appropriate and as the best interests of the child require.
(b) If, at a hearing on a petition under this chapter, the court after reviewing the evidence finds a credible risk of abduction of the child, the court shall enter an abduction prevention order. The order must include the provisions required by subsection (c), specifying measures that are reasonably calculated to prevent abduction of the child and giving due consideration to the custody and visitation rights of the parties. The court shall consider the age of the child, the potential harm to the child from an abduction, the legal and practical difficulties of returning the child to the jurisdiction if abducted, and the risks for the potential abduction, including, but not limited to, evidence of domestic violence, stalking, or child abuse or neglect, or history thereof.
(c) An order for relief under this chapter shall include:
(1) the basis for the court’s exercise of jurisdiction;
(2) the manner in which notice and opportunity to be heard were given to the persons entitled to notice of the proceeding;
(3) a detailed description of each party’s custody and visitation rights and residential arrangements for the child at the time the petition under this chapter was filed;
(4) a provision stating that a violation of the order may subject the party in violation to being held in contempt with civil and criminal penalties as provided by law; and
(5) identification of the child’s county, state, and country of habitual residence at the time of the issuance of the order.
(d) An abduction prevention order may include one or more of the following:
(1) an imposition of travel restrictions that require that a party traveling with the child outside a designated geographical area provide the other party with the following:
(A) the travel itinerary of the child;
(B) a list of physical addresses and telephone numbers at which the child can be reached at specified times; and
(C) copies of all travel documents;
(2) a prohibition of the respondent directly or indirectly:
(A) removing the child from this state, the United States, or another geographic area without permission of the court or the petitioner’s written consent;
(B) removing or retaining the child in violation of a child-custody determination;
(C) removing the child from school or a child-care or similar facility; or
(D) approaching the child at any location other than a site designated for supervised visitation;
(3) a requirement that a party register the order in another state as a prerequisite to allowing the child to travel to that state;
(4) with regard to the child’s passport:
(A) a direction that the petitioner place the child’s name in the United States Department of State’s Child Passport Issuance Alert Program;
(B) a requirement that the respondent surrender to the court or the petitioner’s attorney any United States or foreign passport issued in the child’s name, including a passport issued in the name of both the parent and the child; and
(C) a prohibition upon the respondent from applying on behalf of the child for a new or replacement passport or visa;
(5) as a prerequisite to exercising custody or visitation, a requirement that the respondent provide:
(A) to the United States Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues and the relevant foreign consulate or embassy, an authenticated copy of the order detailing passport and travel restrictions for the child;
(B) to the court:
(i) proof that the respondent has provided the information in subparagraph (A); and
(ii) an acknowledgment in a record from the relevant foreign consulate or embassy that no passport application has been made, or passport issued, on behalf of the child;
(C) to the petitioner, proof of registration of an authenticated copy of the order detailing passport and travel restrictions for the child with the United States Embassy or other United States diplomatic presence in the destination country and with the Central Authority for The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, if that convention is in effect between the United States and the destination country; and
(D) a written waiver under the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. Section 552a as amended, with respect to any document, application, or other information pertaining to the child authorizing its disclosure to the court and the petitioner; and
(6) upon the petitioner’s request, a requirement that the respondent obtain an order from the relevant foreign country containing terms consistent with the child-custody determination issued in the United States.
(e) In an abduction prevention order, the court may impose conditions on the exercise of custody or visitation that:
(1) limit visitation or require that visitation with the child by the respondent be supervised until the court finds that supervision is no longer necessary and may order the parties to pay the costs of supervision; and
(2) require the posting of a bond or provide other security in an amount sufficient to serve as a financial deterrent to abduction.
(f) To prevent abduction of a child, a court may grant any other relief allowed under the law of this state other than this chapter.
(g) The remedies provided in this chapter are cumulative and do not affect the availability of other remedies to prevent abduction.

Legislative History

(Act 2010-212, p. 339, §9.)