Understand Your Situation
Urgent legal intervention for children taken across international borders without consent. Action is taken through international treaties to secure a child's return.
International child abduction occurs when a child is removed from their home country without the permission of those with Parental Responsibility. Most cases are handled under the Hague Convention, an international treaty designed to return children to their country of 'habitual residence' as quickly as possible. Speed is critical, as the law focuses on returning the child so that the local courts can decide on their long-term future.
Legislation & Rights
Immediate legal advice is essential in abduction cases. A confidential call identifies the urgent steps needed to protect the child and engage international law.
Plan Your Defence
The legal process involves coordinating with the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit (ICACU). Defences against a return order are very limited and usually involve proving a 'grave risk' of physical or psychological harm if the child is returned. Because of the technical nature of treaty law, immediate legal representation is required to navigate the high-speed court hearings involved in these cases.
Defence & Evidence
Specialist representation ensures that treaty protocols are followed and that the necessary evidence is presented to secure the child's safe return.
Legal Aid Availability
For many criminal matters, from police station interviews to Crown Court trials, public funding (Legal Aid) may be available to cover your legal costs.
Eligibility is determined by the seriousness of the case and, in some instances, a means assessment. Our team will conduct an immediate, confidential assessment of your eligibility to ensure that financial constraints do not stand in the way of a robust defence.
