Child Abduction And The Hague Convention Issues

International child abduction, often by a parent taking children out of a country without the consent of the other parent, is increasing as more people travel and reside overseas. This will often require immediate action in multiple jurisdictions.If a child is abducted from Singapore to another country, we can assist the left-behind parent by taking the following steps:

• Determine whether the case can be brought pursuant to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Convention);
• Prepare and file the Hague Convention application as to petitioner’s custody rights under Singapore law;
• Coordinate with the Central Authority of Singapore and corresponding Embassies;
• Assist our client retain local counsel in the foreign jurisdiction;
• Determine the possibility of instituting civil proceedings against the abductor Coordinate appropriate action if the abductor flees to a third jurisdiction;
• Coordinate the institution of measures to cause the foreign state’s authorities to enforce its court’s return order; and
• Determine and help implement alternative strategies in the case of abductions to countries that are not parties to the Hague Convention.

If retained by a parent who is alleged to have abducted a child to a foreign jurisdiction, international counsel will assist the client to retain local counsel in the foreign jurisdiction, assist in preparing the defense and assist in defending any actions that the left-behind parent asserts in the state from which the child was removed.