Find out where children live?

Questioner

My brother is divorced, has no contact with his children. Now his ex has moved with the children. Previously he knew their residential address. That way he could still send a card, for example. How can my brother find out what their new address is? He only wants to know where they are staying now. Can this be done through a lawyer or does this have to go through the court?

Lawyer

It is understandable that your brother would like to find out where his children are staying. There are a number of steps he can take to try to do this. Ask the ex-partner: The most obvious step is to ask his ex-partner where the children are staying. She may be willing to share this information. However, she may not be willing or able to do so. Search for information online: Your brother may try to find information online about the whereabouts of his children. For example, he may look at social media accounts of his ex-partner or her family members. However, it is important to note that privacy laws restrict these types of searches and it is also possible that the ex-partner has made some of the information private. Hire an attorney: An attorney can help your brother understand the court decisions surrounding the divorce and what his rights are. The attorney can then help contact the ex-spouse to find out the children’s address. If the ex-spouse is unwilling to share the information, the attorney can file a motion with the judge to force it. Seek help from a mediator: A professional mediator can help resolve conflicts between your brother and his ex-partner and can try to convince the ex-partner to share the children's address. However, mediators cannot take legal action to compel information. It is important to note that finding out where children are staying can be a sensitive issue and there are restrictions on what your brother can do to obtain this information. It is always best to get the right legal and professional support to ensure that your brother does not overstep any legal boundaries.