In the 1930's-40's could a father run off with his child?

[TPH]

I am exploring a complicated part of my family history and there is evidence to suggest the during the late 1930's early 1940's a father could have run off or disappeared with his child.

I'm just wondering how feasible this would be and whether legally this would have been allowed?

[CaroleW]

Can you explain exactly what you mean by "run off". 

Forcibly took the child from its mother?

Left the country with the child without the mothers knowledge or consent?

Moved to another part of the country with the child without the mothers knowledge or consent?

[TPH]

I would say took the child with or without the mother's consent.

[CaroleW]

"I would say took the child with or without the mothers consent"

Big difference

Took the child WITH the mothers consent - self explanatory.  Mother in agreement with arrangement

Took the child WITHOUT the mothers consent - why?  Was mother unfit?  If not - what were the circumstances

You really need to give a lot more detail as without knowing what info you have it's impossible to pass an opinion

[heywood]

It happens now so probably yes.
If the mother reported the action, there would/might have been enquiries and searches probably.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

If parents split up in the 1930s/40s the child often stayed with the father.

My mother stayed with her mother at that time and it was considered unusual

[TPH]

Based on what I know it is impossible to say whether it was with or without the mother's consent.

It is possible that it maybe due to the mother being unfit.

The mother was granted an Absentia divorce from the father in the mid 1940's. This would suggest there was no contact with the father and that she did not know his whereabouts or that of her child.

[TPH]

I have seen census data about the father whereabouts after the first marriage and the birth of the child. This shows two closed records at the address.

Does anyone know why records are 'closed' and why the information is witheld?

[mckha489]

I have seen census data about the father whereabouts after the first marriage and the birth of the child. This shows two closed records at the address.

Does anyone know why records are 'closed' and why the information is witheld?

Do you mean the 1939 register?  This is not a census. It was continually updated by the NHS.  The redacted (blocked out entries) are people who were born less than 100 years ago who were not known to have died. (Although there are some exceptions). Because they may still be living. They get unblocked as the years go by, so by 2039 the whole thing should be visible.

Reasons for not known to have died are, that they haven’t died, or they may have died in another country, thus not showing on English data bases.