Austin, TX family law attorney Bill Powers talks about one of the most challenging type of child custody situation he’s handled. He says that nothing is more complicated—and, for lack of a better word, more heart-wrenching—than a parental kidnapping case. When a child has been illegally abducted, and the client has no idea where their child is or whether the child is safe, the situation becomes intensely complex.

First, he explains, you have to locate the child and obtain the appropriate court orders in Texas. Once the child is found, coordination with the jurisdiction where the child has been taken is necessary. This involves finding counsel in that state and having that counsel present the case to a judge to enforce the Texas order. The process is extremely complex, urgent, and emotionally taxing.

Over time, he has learned strategies that can help. For example, in many abduction cases, someone—often a family member—is assisting the person who took the child, which can help predict where the child might be. There are also certain practical tricks he and his team have developed, which he keeps confidential. He notes that in the last abduction case his firm handled, they were able to recover the child within three weeks.