Child Abduction Matters

As evidenced by recent news articles in the media international disputes concerning children continue to increase. They are always distressing and difficult for all concerned, especially the children. Very often cases are played out in the full glare of the media. Each parent may believe that he or she has the right to have the child living with them or to have contact/access with the child.

Often a parent will have court orders providing for residence or contact. In general disputes about arrangements for children are decided by the courts of the country in which the child is located unless the parents agree. The nationality of the child will have little bearing on where the case is heard. 

Parents whose children are abducted or who have orders made by the courts in Northern Ireland for contact with their children living overseas hold high expectations of what the government and other agencies can do to help them. While help is available, the arrangements with overseas countries are complicated and you are strongly advised to contact a solicitor or a Citizens Advice Bureau for legal advice. For details of solicitors with particular experience in this specialist field you may wish to contact the Law Society. Procedural advice may be given by the International Child Abduction Unit, Operational Policy Branch of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service in Belfast; Consular Division of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, the Passport Agency or Reunite: International Child Abduction Centre which is a charity specialising in assisting parents. Contact details for these organisations may be found at the section for Contact Details below

Parents who have brought their children to Northern Ireland from abroad and who are concerned as to the situation in which this action places them and their children may also approach the organisations listed in: Useful addresses and links for contact details to obtain information about the implications of their situation. If you are in this position you should also consider obtaining legal advice so that the situation can be resolved.

Further Information

Glossary of terms

The following terms you will come across

• Glossary of terms

If your child has been abducted or you fear that abduction may occur in the future, it would be useful to have on hand as much of the following information as possible.

Checklist

If your child has been abducted or you fear that abduction may occur in the future, it would be useful to have on hand as much of the following information as possible.

Information about the child

• full name
• date and place of birth
• passport number, date and place of issue
• photographs or a physical description
• any entitlement to a passport other than a British passport

Information about the person who has taken the child

• full name including any prior or maiden name and any aliases if applicable
• date and place of birth
• passport number, date and place of issue
• photograph or a physical description
• occupation
• probable date of departure
• departure information including flights, train, ferry
• details of ties to a foreign country, such as the names, addresses and telephone numbers of relatives, friends and business contacts

Copies of documents

• any agreements or court orders which relate to the child
• child's birth certificate
• marriage certificate or divorce decree
• name and address of solicitor if you have one

The Central Authority

The Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 designates the Lord Chancellor as the Central Authority for England and Wales and the Department of Justice as the central authority for Northern Ireland.  In Scotland, the Secretary of State is the Central Authority.  The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, discharges the functions of the Central Authority in Northern Ireland.

The duties of the Central Authority in Northern Ireland are carried out by the International Child Abduction Unit, Operational Policy Branch of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service which is the designated Central Authority for Northern Ireland.

Application to the Central Authority

Although there is no specified form for making an application to a Central Authority under the Hague or European Conventions, in cases where a child has been abducted from Northern Ireland (outgoing cases) applicants are provided with an Application (Questionnaire) and Notes for Guidance.  This enables the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service to send out an application which broadly follows the model suggested by the Hague Convention.  An application from another Convention country in cases where it is believed that a child has been abducted to Northern Ireland (incoming cases) will be accepted in any form, provided that it contains sufficient information.  Requests for information and assistance are usually made by telephone or by letter.

Staff in the International Child Abduction Unit of the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service process applications and provide information to parents, solicitors and others on the steps they may take to recover children who have been removed unlawfully to or from Northern Ireland.  The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service communicates regularly with Central Authorities in other countries regarding cases, passing on information and providing assistance where necessary.

If your child has been taken to a Convention country (see Countries in the Conventions), you should contact the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.  You will be asked to provide brief details over the telephone and you will be sent an application/questionnaire to complete.  Alternatively, you can complete the application by using the Application (Questionnaire) on this website.  The completed application should be sent in hard copy to the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.

The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is open from Monday to Friday (9 am to 5 pm) and the contact details for child abduction matters are:

The Law in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland child abduction involves both the civil and criminal law. However, once a child has been removed from the United Kingdom, parental abduction is usually treated as a civil matter.

• The law in Northern Ireland

1996 Hague Convention

The 1996 Hague Convention, this is a Convention of the Hague Conference which covers a wide range of civil measures for protection concerning children. It reinforces the Convention of 25 October 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction by underlining the primary role played by the authorities where the child habitually resides in deciding upon any measures which may be needed to protect them.

• 1996 Hague Convention

Legal Representation

Solicitors and barristers who are in private practice in Northern Ireland represent applicants in Convention cases before a Northern Ireland court. The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service does not represent applicants at court.

• Legal representation

Countries in the Conventions

Countries which the Hague and European Conventions are in force with the United Kingdom - 

• Countries in the Conventions

Enforcement of contact access/orders

Legal advice should be sought on enforcement outside the UK of court orders made in Northern Ireland dealing with parental responsibility.

• Enforcement of contact access orders

How child abduction cases are handled and international agreements

The Hague Convention and the European Convention are based on a system of Central Authorities. Each member country appoints a Central Authority which functions as the contact point for all applications under the Conventions.

• How child abduction cases are handled and international agreements

Advice to parents if your child has been taken to a Convention country

You or your legal adviser should contact the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service.

• Advice to parents if your child has been taken to a Convention country

Advice to parents if your child has been taken to a non Convention country

You should contact the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

• Advice to parents if your child has been taken to a non-Convention country

Preventing child abduction

If you fear that your child may be taken abroad without your consent, you should consider the following

• Preventing child abduction

Frequently asked questions

• Frequently asked questions

Questionnaire and notes for guidance

Access the Questionnaire and the Notes for Guidance. You should read the Notes for Guidance before completing the Questionnaire

• Application questionnaire and notes for guidance

Contact details

The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service is open from Monday to Friday (9 am to 5 pm) and the contact details for child abduction matters are: