Attorney Network

The Department of State places the highest priority on the welfare of children, and is deeply committed to assisting children and parents involved in international parental child abduction cases. As part of our efforts, the Office of Children’s Issues maintains an Attorney Network. Our Network’s attorneys provide legal representation to parents involved in international parental child abduction cases.

• Join Our Hague Convention Attorney Network

Hague Abduction Convention Resources

• Convention Text / Convention Partners
• Explanatory Report
• Hague Conference Child Abduction Section
• International Child Abduction Remedies Act (ICARA), 22 U.S.C. § 9001 et seq. (formerly 42 U.S.C. § 11601 et seq.) 
• Legal Analysis
• Compliance Report for Congress
• U.S. Treaty Partners under the Hague Abduction Convention  

Resources for Litigating Incoming Hague Convention Cases

• Guide to Litigating Cases in the United States (2012)

              See Appendix H for sample pleadings

•  International Hague Network of Judges

Expert Hague judges in the U.S. and abroad are available to answer questions and provide guidance to judges hearing Hague cases.

U.S. Supreme Court Cases interpreting  the Convention:

• Abbott v. Abbott, 130 S. Ct. 1983, 176 L. Ed. 2d 789 (2010) 
• Chafin v. Chafin, 133 S.Ct. 1017, 185 L.Ed.2d 1 (2013)
• Lozano v. Alvarez, 134 S.Ct. 1224, 188 L.Ed.2d 200 (2014)
• Monasky v. Taglieri, 589 U.S. (2020)
• Golan v. Saada, 596 U.S. (2022)

International Case Law

Please note that the Hague Abduction Convention is not an exclusive remedy in the United States. Other remedies may exist under U.S. domestic laws. For examples, see “Civil Laws” below.

Also see Getting Your Custody Order Recognized and Enforced in the U.S..

Passport Issuance & Prevention Tools

Assessing the Need for Prevention

• Family Abductors: Descriptive Profiles and Preventative Interventions (DOJ)
• Early Identification of Risk Factors for Parental Abduction (DOJ)
• Dual National Children

Passport Issuance & Prevention Tools

• Passport Requirements for Minors
• Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program
• Fact Sheet on Passports for Family Law Judges and Lawyers
• UCAPA
• "UU" UCAPA: Understanding and Using UCAPA to Prevent Child Abduction"
• International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act

Forms

Hague Application

• Hague Application – English
• Hague Application – Spanish
• Hague Application – Portuguese
• Application Instructions
• Sample Article 28 Statement

Other Useful Forms

• Privacy Act Waiver Form
• Entry Into Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program
• Hague Convention Attorney Network Enrollment Form

Laws & Regulations

See this page here.

Civil Laws

• International Child Abduction Remedies Act (ICARA), 22 U.S.C. § 9001 et seq. (formerly 42 U.S.C. § 11601 et seq.) 
• Uniform Child Abduction Prevention Act (UCAPA)
• Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)

Criminal Laws

• Extradition Treaties Interpretation Act
• Fugitive Felon Act
• International Parental Kidnapping Crime Act
• Missing Children’s Act

Useful Links & Publications

Useful Links

• Using Mediation
• International Hague Network of Judges
• Visas
• Children's Issues and Domestic Violence

Publications

• Notary and Authentication Services Abroad
• Criminal Justice System's Response to Parental Abduction
• Report to the Attorney General on International Parental Kidnapping
• Family Resource Guide
• When Children Cross Borders: How California Prosecutors Resolve International Child Abduction Cases