Hague Abduction (International Child Custody)
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (commonly referred to as the Hague Abduction Convention or simply the Abduction Convention) is a nuanced, narrow area of international law intended to protect children from international abduction when custody disputes cross borders.
Often, these cases arise in the context of a divorce/child custody proceeding or after a child has been retained by a parent in another country that is not the child’s habitual residence without consent. Both countries must be party to the convention.
The Hague Abduction Convention applies if your child was habitually resident in one Convention country and was wrongfully removed or retained in another Convention country.
The removal or retention of your child is considered wrongful if it was in violation of your custodial rights. The Convention must have been in force between the two countries when the wrongful removal or retention occurred. The child must be under the age of 16.
Poarch Thompson Law has developed a high level of expertise in these cases and assists both families and family law attorneys in litigating those claims, usually in federal court.
