Despite public perceptions, most missing children are not abducted by strangers cruising for children to satisfy their perversions, most missing children are either runaways or abducted by family members, or friends of the family.  Of the abductions, the vast majority are by parents involved in custody disputes.

        Worrying about your child being snatched may be more unhealthy paranoia than reasoned precaution, but some relatively simple steps do make sense, particularly if there is any dispute over custody or the proper care for your child.

        You should keep in one place information to help you find a missing child, whether a runaway or an abduction.  Divide the information into two categories, about the child and about any adult who might take the child.

        Keep information about the following for a child: recent photos and videotapes of the child; birth certificate; medical, dental and pharmacy records; list of long-term prescriptions; school records; fingerprint card; passport; names, addresses and phone numbers of friends.

        And make certain your child knows his or her name, address, phone number and parents' names.  If there is an abduction, you want your child to know how to reach you.

        For an adult who might take a child, try to keep even more information, since it is finding that adult that would eventually lead to the child.  If you can get it, for an adult the information you collect might include the following: recent photos and videotapes of the adult; birth certificate; previous addresses; numbers of telephone, cell phone, fax, and pager numbers; computer e-mail addresses or on-line services; medical, dental and pharmacy records or at least the names and addresses and phone numbers of doctors or dentists or pharmacies used; list of long-term prescriptions; employment records; union memberships or occupational or professional licenses; school records; passport; names, addresses and phone numbers of friends and relatives; military assignments; immigration records; organizational memberships; credit card numbers; vehicle description, registration and license plate numbers; firearms registrations; insurance policies; real estate holdings; trusts or anticipated inheritances; pending court actions; hunting and fishing licenses; veterinary records for pets; magazine prescriptions; banks and banking account numbers; brokerage firms; other investment account numbers and locations; pension and retirement accounts; loan applications; disability or workers' compensation benefits; memberships in any travel clubs, for hotels, rental cars or frequent flier miles.

        With this kind of information, you dramatically improve your chance of quickly finding your child.  Once your child is found, there are several legal measures you can take, including filing criminal charges for parental kidnapping, or having the court handling the custody case punish a parent for contempt, or filing suit for custodial interference.

        But the most important thing is finding your child.  Keeping the right information can make that much easier.

Click here to e-mail questions, suggestions or corrections regarding this page.

                                              Disclosure on Non-Representation Link
                                              Disclosures on Certification of Specialization Link