The custody paper, which was an out-of-state document, was signed by people whom the principal did not know. The principal reviewed the enrollment information provided in the child's new student record folder and proceeded to weigh her options before making a crucial decision.
The Solution: After reviewing the child's enrollment information, the principal called the mother and described the situation to her. The mother was horrified and stated, "This is untrue so please don't let him leave with my son. I will call my attorney here in town." The principal took the document from the father's attorney and contacted the sheriff. The sheriff was informed of the out-of-state custody paper, and the principal requested the sheriff to check on this for her. The principal denied the father his request to take his son until more information could be obtained. The father and his attorney were asked to wait in the principal's office. In the meantime, the principal left the office and privately asked her secretary to inform the child's teacher to not let the child out of the classroom under any circumstances. The child was unaware that anything was going on, and the professionals who were involved in this situation made sure that the child remained unaware. The mother's attorney then called the principal and informed her that he was on his way to the school with the child's mother. A deputy from the sheriff's office arrived at the school and was stationed outside the principal's office. The mother and her attorney arrived. The two attorneys, parents, and principal went into the principal's office. The sheriff called, and the principal placed his call on a speaker phone so all could hear his report on the research he had done on the out-of-state custody paper that the father had presented upon his arrival. Both attorneys heard that no such custody paper had been issued because the father's custody paper was a falsified document.