On July 27, 2026, WSAV reported that police in Effingham County had arrested a father for interfering with child custody after a kayaking trip gone wrong. What happened during the trip is not exactly clear, but police reportedly used drones to locate the father and the children on the open water. What if you experienced a similar mishap during a trip with your children? Could you face legal consequences for accidentally missing a custody exchange in Georgia?
Communication is Key
As soon as something goes wrong during your trip with the kids, it is your responsibility to notify the other parent. The sooner you do this, the lower your chances of serious legal consequences. As long as you explain what happened and provide your ex with a realistic timeline, you should not face kidnapping charges or any custody problems in the future.
Communication could be challenging if you are camping or out on the water. In this situation, you may not have cell service, and it might be difficult to contact your ex (or even the authorities for that matter). If you are unable to contact anyone during your trip, remain calm and try your best to protect your children from harm.
As soon as you regain cell service, contact both the local authorities and your ex. Explain that something went wrong during your trip, and communicate the fact that your children are safe. If you fail to get back in communication as soon as you regain cell service, you could face serious consequences.
Gather Proof of the Mishap
Much can go wrong during a camping trip, kayaking trip, or even a normal vacation. If you can, take the time to gather evidence of the mishap while it is happening. For example, your car might break down during a road trip. Take a photograph of the disabled vehicle. You might want to film yourself in “selfie mode” explaining the situation in more detail.
If you had some kind of mishap on the open water, you should also gather appropriate evidence. Perhaps a current pushed you out to sea during a kayaking trip. Maybe your boat broke down. Whatever the case may be, gather all the evidence you can. If someone became injured on your trip, take photographs and document the issue in detail.
You may need to use this evidence later, especially if your ex is accusing you of intentionally delaying or even trying to escape with the children. With assistance from a lawyer, you can prove that the delay and the communication issue were completely out of your control.
Can a Georgia Child Custody Lawyer Help Me?
Mishaps can easily happen during trips, especially if you are out in the wilderness or on the open water. You should not face unfair consequences for something that was completely out of your control. If you face criminal charges or the loss of custody because of a trip that went wrong, contact a Georgia family law attorney to discuss your next steps in more detail. Lankford & Moore Law serves parents across Georgia.
