
Torrance Parental Kidnapping Lawyer
What Constitutes Parental Kidnapping in California?
Most custody arrangements set up physical boundaries for both parents when spending time with the child. Breaking these orders is a direct violation of the law and can result in serious repercussions. Even if custody orders do not currently exist, the act of parental kidnapping can be enough to restrict the offending parent’s future relationship with the child.
The act of parental kidnapping can violate custody orders already in place, or it can cause the court to forfeit that parent’s right to any degree of custody. Whatever your situation, don’t wait until something serious to get help.
There are three main factors that determine whether parental kidnapping occurred, including:
- The legal status of the offending parent
- Whether court orders exist regarding custody
- The intent of the offending parent
Consult with our Torrance child custody lawyers before a crisis emerges.
Experienced Child Custody Attorneys in Torrance & South Bay, CA
Kidnapping seems like something reserved for the movies, but it is a prevalent problem in families, especially when two parents are at odds due to child custody orders. Do you fear that your former spouse may try to kidnap your child to evade or break a custody arrangement? You are not alone. Patricia Barberis, A Law Corporation, is equipped with the resources to defend your rights.
We understand that for many families, parental kidnapping is a very real threat and requires that swift action be taken. Your child is deserving of a safe environment and final custody orders should reflect that. Our goal is to eliminate threats to your child, restore the peace to your relationship, and exact justice on the offending parent. Not only are our child custody attorneys backed by 70 years of experience, we have proven success when handling custody cases.
Take advantage of our skill by calling us to schedule your confidential consultation!
What Sets Us Apart
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Trusted by Generations of FamiliesOur reputation for integrity and excellence has made us a go-to firm for families across Los Angeles County for nearly five decades.
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Tenacious & CompassionateWe fiercely advocate for our clients while offering the empathy and support needed during life’s most challenging moments.
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70 Years of Combined ExperienceWith decades of trusted legal service in the South Bay, we bring deep knowledge and proven results to the most complex family law matters.
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Mother & Daughter Legal TeamBenefit from the strength and synergy of a family-led team that brings a personal, united approach to every case.

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Meet Pat & ColleenDiscover the experience and dedication behind our trusted mother–daughter legal team.
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TestimonialsHear directly from clients who’ve trusted us to guide them through family law challenges.
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FAQFind straightforward answers to the most common family law and divorce questions.

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I couldn't have chosen a better law team to represent my family and me. Everyone in the office treats us with love and care, ensuring that I understand everything that is happening. You are a wonderful, loyal person, and you are also an excellent, caring, and highly professional lawyer. Words cannot express how grateful I am for all you have done. I did not want the day to pass without thanking you again for your work today.Mikki D.
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Pat, Colleen, and the team helped me through a very difficult custody issue many years ago, so I called them again when I needed to divorce. I thank them for their excellence, efficiency, and a successful settlement!Shireen C.
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Divorce can be very difficult, expensive and stressful. You need someone to talk to that could lead you in the right direction when you’re ready. Colleen was the right person to do that. She and Pat Barberis are the team that made me feel protected when I was the most vulnerable early in the divorce process. They were patient with me and Colleen was by my side in court when I really needed in person representation before the court.C.D.
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Joseph R.
Pat helped me with my divorce, which was a difficult time for me. She was fantastic, helping me through the whole process. She worked very hard to ensure it was as positive an outcome for me as possible.
When I turned to her for some legal advice just recently, several years after my divorce, I was able to set up a consultation with her that same day. She worked through the situation with me, understanding it and providing me with options that could be pursued, and giving me very solid advice. I would never hesitate to engage her again if the need arose. I would strongly recommend Pat for any family law needs you might have.
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Pat helped me with my divorce previously, which was a very difficult time for me. She was fantastic, helping me through the whole process. She worked very hard to ensure it was as positive an outcome for me as possible. When I turned to her for some legal advice just recently, several years after my divorce, I was able to set up a consultation with her that same day. She worked through the situation with me, understanding the it and providing me with options that could be pursued, and giving me very solid advice. I would never hesitate to engage her again if the need arose. I would strongly recommend Pat for any family law needs you might have.Joe
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Pat did a phenomenal job throughout my high conflict divorce. She will communicate all your options to you, she will advocate for you and fight for you, and she is so knowledgeable--her amount of expertise will put your mind at ease. She would be so prompt with all communications that if I ever had a question she would even respond to me after hours or on the weekends if needed (which I was super impressed with and it was much appreciated). Her team (which includes Colleen Barberis) and all of the office staff were incredible throughout the divorce and I will be forever grateful to them for getting me to the finish line with this divorce. I walked away with an incredible settlement and had a great outcome because of all their hard work. Thank you so much Pat, Colleen, and office staff!!Liz L
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Patricia and Colleen and their helpful office staff were a full service team who helped support me and get me through my family court battles. They were quick to respond and helpful. I would recommend them to everyone.Sarah T.
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I have had the best representation and experience with the law team of Patricia Barberis. I have had the pleasure of using them twice. They do a great job. Patricia Colleen and everyone in the office is super helpful and very talented in what they do. Their understanding of family law is amazing. Patricia and her team were very kind and patient with me in difficult times and circumstances. The last one was during the Pandemic late last year and they did an A+ job. Patricia’s guidance was super helpful and her paralegal Nancy did a fantastic job too. I highly recommend Patricia Barberis Law Firm for all family law matters. They are wonderful people and are extremely knowledgeable.
