International Parental Child Abduction Philippines
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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.
December 2012
For information concerning travel to the Philippines, 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 Philippines country-specific information.
The Philippines is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between the Philippines and the United States concerning international parental child abduction. Back to TopLegal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country. The Family Code of the Philippines is available on the Internet at: The Family Code of the Philippines. Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in the Philippines and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances.
The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children’s Issues
provides assistance in cases of international parental child abduction. For U.S. citizen parents whose children have been
wrongfully removed to or retained in countries that are not U.S. partners under the Hague Abduction Convention, the Office
of Children’s Issues can provide information and resources about country-specific options for pursuing the return of or access
to an abducted child. The Office of Children’s Issues may also coordinate with appropriate foreign and U.S. government authorities
about the welfare of abducted U.S. citizen children. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for
assistance.
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: travel.state.gov
Email: AskCI@state.gov
Parental child abduction is not a crime in the Philippines.
Parents may wish to consult with an attorney in the United States and in the country to which the child has been removed or retained to learn more about how filing criminal charges may impact a custody case in the foreign court. Please see Possible Solutions - Pressing Criminal Charges for more information.
The Office of Children’s Issues may be able to assist parents seeking access to children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States. Parents who are seeking access to children who were not wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States should contact the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines for information and possible assistance.
Neither the Office of Children’s Issues nor consular officials at the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in the Philippines are authorized to provide legal advice.
The U.S. Embassy in Manila posts a list of attorneys, including those who specialize in family law.
This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. 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.
The Philippine Mediation Center and the Philippine Judicial Academy function as the primary mediation institutions for cases that a court refers for mediation. Only cases that are already in the judicial system are eligible for this service. Parents can obtain more information at: http://www.pmc.org.ph/ and http://philja.judiciary.gov.ph/. Outside of the courts, the Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development may be able to provide assistance. Parents can obtain more information at: http://www.dswd.gov.ph/.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines can be contacted at:
U.S. Embassy Philippines
1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila, Philippines 1000
Telephone: (632) 301-2000
Fax: (632) 301-2017
E-mail: acsinfomanila@state.gov
Website: Embassy of The United States, Manila Philippines
The Embassy of the Philippines is located in Washington, D.C. at:
Embassy of the Philippines
1600 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036
Telephone: (202) 467-9300
Fax: (202) 467-9417
Website: Embassy of The Philippines, Washington D.C.
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