International Parental Child Abduction Iceland
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DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change
without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed to practice in the relevant
jurisdiction.
November 2012
Iceland and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) since December 1, 1996.
For information concerning travel to Iceland, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Iceland.
The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention. In this capacity, the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Children’s Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including Iceland. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority
Contact information:
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Fax: 202-736-9132
Website: http://travel.state.gov/
The Icelandic Central Authority (ICA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Ministry of Interior (MOI). The ICA will review the Hague application and supporting documents before submitting the Hague petition to an Icelandic court.
The ICA can be reached at:
Iceland’s Central Authority, the Ministry of Interior.
Sölvhólsgata 7
150 Reykjavik
Iceland
Tel.: +354 545 9000
Fax: + 354 552 7340
E-mail: postur@irr.is
Website: http://eng.innanrikisraduneyti.is/
To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Iceland, the USCA encourages a parent or legal guardian to review the eligibility criteria and instructions for completing the Hague application form located at the Department of State website and contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the ICA. The ICA does not require applicants to translate their application into Icelandic. If the ICA accepts the Hague application, the ICA will forward the petition to the District Court. The parties and/or their attorneys must appear before a District Court judge to formally register the Hague request in the Icelandic legal system. The judge will schedule a hearing date if he or she accepts the case. The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to the ICA, and to subsequently monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes.
There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the U.S. or the Icelandic central authorities. U.S. citizens may apply for legal aid through the Ministry of Interior. The Ministry will decide if the person qualifies for legal aid. Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.
A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained in, Iceland. The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand whether the Convention is an available civil remedy and can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.
A person may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in Iceland. The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country. The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.
Parents or legal guardians are not required to retain a private attorney in order to file a Hague Abduction Convention application with the ICA, but they are required to hire an attorney at their own expense once the petition is sent to a court. A parent who hires private counsel should notify both the Icelandic and U.S. central authorities. In addition, there are some organizations in Iceland that offer free or reduced cost legal services:
* Lawyers Association in Iceland:
* Law Students University of Iceland: (Note: these are law students who cannot represent you in court, although they are willing to offer free legal advice).
* Law Students at University of Reykjavik: (Note: these are law students who cannot represent you in court, although they are willing to offer free legal advice.)
The U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik, Iceland, posts a list of attorneys licensed to practice law in Iceland, including those that specialize in family law.
The list of organizations offering free or reduced cost legal services in Iceland as well as the list of attorneys provided by the U.S. Embassy is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney or organization. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the persons or firms included in this list. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers or organizations.
The Icelandic government is supportive of mediation programs to resolve international parental child abduction cases. If mediation is successful, the District Commissioner’s office will sign and witness the final agreement. If the parents are unable to come to an agreement, the case returns to court.
Mediation services are always carried out through the District Commissioner’s office in the district where the child resides.
A lawyer and social worker generally preside over the mediation process and offer counseling and advice to parents. There
are no costs for this service.
The U.S. Embassy in Iceland can be contacted at:
U.S. Embassy Iceland
Laufásvegur 21
101 Reykjavík
Telephone: (354) 595 2200
Website: http://iceland.usembassy.gov/
The Embassy of Iceland is located in Washington, D.C., at:
Embassy of Iceland
2900 K Street, NW #509
Washington D.C. 20007
Telephone: (202) 265-6653
Fax: (202) 265-6656
Email: icemb.wash@utn.stjr.is
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