What is it called when a mother gains full custody of a child, but the father takes the child?

When a mother gains full custody of a child and the father takes the child without lawful authority, this situation is referred to as child abduction. Child abduction occurs when a person wrongfully takes or keeps a minor child away from their legal custodian. In this scenario, since the mother has full custody, she has the legal right to make decisions regarding the child's care and whereabouts. By taking the child, the father is violating that legal right and thus committing an act of child abduction.

The context of this situation is crucial; although there are other terms that might be related, such as parental kidnapping or familial dispute, the specific act of unlawfully taking a child out of the custody of the legal guardian is more accurately classified as child abduction. This distinction is important in legal terms because it affects how the situation may be handled by law enforcement and the judicial system, emphasizing the seriousness of the act when custody arrangements are already determined.