Hague Convention
If your child has been unlawfully removed from Australia by the other parent, or a parent refuses to return to Australia with the child, you will need specialist and competent legal advice. We have experience and success in Hague Convention matters.
What is child abduction?
Child abduction or kidnapping is when a parent without the permission of the other parent takes the child either out of Australia or to a location which the other parent does not know.
Child abduction is not in the child’s best interest and often results in long-term bitterness and puts children in the middle of conflict which is harmful to them in the long-run. If you need prompt and skilled legal advice contact us today.
What is the Hague Convention ?
The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction is the main international agreement that covers international child abductions by parents.
The Hague Convention provides a way that you can get the child returned to you, provided that the country is a member of the Hague convention or Australia has a bilateral agreement with that country, such as Lebanon and Egypt.
Child international abduction cases are very serious and they are dealt with as quickly as possible. For more information call us .
General Information – Hague Convention
Hague Convention matters are not parenting or child custody matters between separating parents. They involve the unlawful abduction of children from their place of residence, by the other parent. Hague Convention matters focus on the return of children to their country of residence and there are only a few circumstances where the removal of a child will be justified or approved by the Court.
Australia is a signatory to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. This is an international agreement that covers the processes involved, when children are unlawfully removed from their residence. Australia has entered the Hague Convention agreement with other counties, that have agreed to also be bound by the terms of the agreement.
If your children have been unlawfully removed from Australia by the other parent, and you make an application under the Hague Convention for the return of the children, then Australia can only assist you, if the other country is a signatory to the convention.
A list of countries that have signed the Hague Convention include:
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Canada
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Hong Kong (China)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau (China)
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Moldova, Republic of
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Portugal
- Republic of Korea (from 1 June 2015)
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Thailand
- The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Venezuela
- Zimbabwe
If you require any further information on Hague Convention matters please contact us today.
We offer fixed fee initial consultations – Book an appointment today!
Location Details
Sydney CBD – Suite 604/267 Castlereagh St, Sydney, NSW 2000
Sydney Eastern Suburbs – 353 New South Head Rd, Double Bay, NSW 2028
