Legal Definitions - whereabouts

The term whereabouts refers to the general location or current position of a person or an object.

• Imagine a situation where a valuable piece of evidence, like a stolen painting, needs to be recovered for a court case. The police might issue a public appeal for information regarding the whereabouts of the artwork.

  This illustrates whereabouts as the specific location of a physical object that is relevant to a legal investigation or proceeding.

• In a child custody dispute, one parent might express concern about the other parent's current whereabouts if they have unexpectedly moved without providing an updated address, making it difficult to maintain visitation schedules or ensure the child's safety.

  Here, whereabouts refers to the general residential or physical location of a person, which is crucial for legal compliance and the well-being of a child.

• When a defendant fails to appear in court, a judge might issue a bench warrant for their arrest. Law enforcement would then actively seek information about the defendant's whereabouts to bring them before the court.

  This example demonstrates whereabouts as the current location of an individual whose presence is legally required, highlighting the importance of knowing a person's location for the judicial process.