# K.S.A. § 21-5409: 21-5409 - Interference with parental custody; aggravated interference with parental custody

> Kansas · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5409

## Section

- **Citation:** K.S.A. § 21-5409
- **Heading:** 21-5409 - Interference with parental custody; aggravated interference with parental custody
- **Jurisdiction:** Kansas
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** KS Code / Chapter 21 / Article 54 / Section 21-5409

## Text

21-5409. Interference with parental custody; aggravated interference with parental custody. (a) Interference with parental custody is taking or enticing away any child under the age of 16 years with the intent to detain or conceal such child from the child's parent, guardian or other person having the lawful charge of such child.

(b) Aggravated interference with parental custody is:

(1) Hiring someone to commit the crime of interference with parental custody, as defined in subsection (a); or

(2) the commission of interference with parental custody, as defined in subsection (a), by a person who:

(A) Has previously been convicted of the crime;

(B) commits the crime for hire;

(C) takes the child outside the state without the consent of either the person having custody or the court;

(D) after lawfully taking the child outside the state while exercising visitation rights or parenting time, refuses to return the child at the expiration of that time;

(E) at the expiration of the exercise of any visitation rights or parenting time outside the state, refuses to return or impedes the return of the child; or

(F) detains or conceals the child in an unknown place, whether inside or outside the state.

(c) (1) Interference with parental custody is a:

(A) Severity level 10, person felony, except as provided in subsection (c)(1)(B); and

(B) class A person misdemeanor, if the defendant is a parent entitled to joint custody of the child either on the basis of a court order or by virtue of the absence of a court order.

(2) Aggravated interference with parental custody is a severity level 7, person felony.

(d) It is not a defense to a prosecution under subsection (a) that the defendant is a parent entitled to joint custody of the child either on the basis of a court order or by virtue of the absence of a court order.

## Nearby sections

- [K.S.A. § 21-5401 21-5401 - Capital murder.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5401.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5402 21-5402 - Murder in the first degree.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5402.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5403 21-5403 - Murder in the second degree.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5403.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5404 21-5404 - Voluntary manslaughter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5404.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5405 21-5405 - Involuntary manslaughter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5405.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5406 21-5406 - Vehicular homicide.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5406.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5407 21-5407 - Assisting suicide.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5407.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5408 21-5408 - Kidnapping; aggravated kidnapping.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5408.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5409 21-5409 - Interference with parental custody; aggravated interference with parental custody.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5409.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5410 21-5410 - Interference with custody of a committed person.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5410.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5411 21-5411 - Criminal restraint.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5411.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5412 21-5412 - Assault; aggravated assault; assault of a law enforcement officer; aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5412.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5413 21-5413 - Battery; aggravated battery; battery against certain persons; aggravated battery against certain persons.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5413.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5414 21-5414 - Domestic battery; aggravated domestic battery.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5414.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A54_S21-5409. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.