R.I. Gen. Laws
Rhode Island General Laws

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-26-1.2 (2026)

Abduction of child prior to court order

✓ current as of July 2026
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(a) Any parent, or any person acting pursuant to directions from the parent, who shall, after being served with process in an action affecting the family, but prior to the issuance of a temporary or final order determining custody of a minor child, take or entice a child away from the family unit, whether within or without the state of Rhode Island, for the purpose of depriving the other parent of physical custody of the child for a period greater than fifteen (15) days, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by imprisonment for a term up to two (2) years, or a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or both.

(b) No person shall be deemed to have violated this section if the action:

(1) Is taken to protect the child from imminent physical harm;

(2) Is taken by a parent fleeing from imminent physical harm to himself or herself;

(3) Is consented to by both parents; or

(4) Is otherwise authorized by law.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case, 1996–1996 · leading case: Foster-Zahid v. Commonwealth, 477 S.E.2d 759 (Va. Ct. App. 1996).
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Foster-Zahid v. Commonwealth, 477 S.E.2d 759 (Va. Ct. App. 1996). “1 (1995) (removal or detention of "child under the age of eighteen years outside North Dakota with the intent to deny another person’s rights under an existing custody decree shall be guilty of a class C felony"); see also R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-26-1.2 (1994); Wyo. Stat.”
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