Help for a friend - suspects soon to be ex has taken D.C. passports

[eyestightshut]

It's an urgent shout-out. What does she doShe has told him she wants to separate and has gone to look for the passports tonight and they have gone. What can she do next within the constraints of the law?

Does he have ties abroad. Is there a kidnap risk. If so call the police to block the passports and issue a missing person's report. I know they're not missing yet but this is what I did. Airports and docks were alerted. Thankfully this stopped my exh in his tracks. Act quickly

More context is needed.

For context : his family have a house in Spain.
There has been some financial shenanigans.He is refusing to move out

She needs to report then as stolen if they have gone missing, I would think?

I would report them as lost/stolen and apply for new ones. Can she get them sent to a different address?

If she thinks he'd take them abroad without her consent then I think she needs to apply for a prohibited steps order

childlawadvice.org.uk/information-pages/abduction/

Check the section under "How can I prevent abduction?" for more information.

Is his passport still where it should be? If so, take his and leave it with a friend so he can't leave the country!

Report them as lost/stolen. That way, they won't work if he does get as far as passport control.

She could either report the situation as it appears - that he has taken them and I'd withholding them.

Personally though for ease (ie to make it more straightforward) I would just report them lost, which I think you can do online? So no questions asked, then request new ones which, as someone above suggested, I'd get sent to another address. Sneaky, but would work.

*is withholding them!

Report them lost.

Report them as lost/stolen. That way, they won't work if he does get as far as passport control.

no passport control on uk side when travelling out...airlines only check if the name matches the ticket.

Also, I think you can get a prohibited steps order to prevent the children being taken out of the country. She might want to get legal advice asap if her ex is likely to get up to shenanigans.

airlines only check if the name matches the ticket

Actually they check the passport matches the person in front of them, which in turn identifies the person named on the ticket. They don't just match the names up.

they check the passport matches the person in front of them, which in turn identifies the person named on the ticket. They don't just match the names up.*

It still doesn't tell them the passport has been reported as lost though.

I'd suggest your friend took legal advice ASAP, op.

If there is a significant and credible threat of abduction overseas she should speak to a family lawyer urgently - they may suggest applying for a Prohibited Steps Order.

It still doesn't tell them the passport has been reported as lost though.

You are right. It doesnt. But facts are important none the less.

Can he get to Spain now though? Aren’t the airports still closed for outgoing travel? How would he get to Spain? Still it’s important to be sure. Report passports as lost today. Ring a solicitor today and file a prohibited steps order.

No biggie
Do not alert him to fact that you can’t find them

Instead - apply for new ones saying old ones stolen.
Be very stealth about it

You get the new ones
If he attempts to take on the old ones - they won’t work!

Even before you receive the new ones
If you register old as lost - they won’t be valid

If he does attempt to take on the old ones
You have absolute proof of his intentions

So win win
They don’t go because invalid passports
You have proof of his abduction intention