Hague Convention – International Child Abduction California
International Parental Child Abduction is on the rise. Here’s what you need to know.
International child abduction cases can be extremely difficult and delicate situations. The Hague Convention was enacted into law to help parents whose child has been wrongfully removed from or retained from their custody by enabling them to petition for the child’s return to their country of habitual residence. Navigating this law can be tricky and if you’re in a situation where the Hague Convention is applicable, it’s important to have an attorney that’s highly experienced in international law.
Luckily, the award-winning attorneys at Masters Law Group have successfully represented clients in such cases across the country and globe; including cases involving families in Washington State, California and internationally in New Zealand, but to name a few. If you need help with an international child abduction case, we can help.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Hague Convention and International Child Abduction California.
History of The Hague Convention
The Hague Convention is essentially a treaty that a number of countries joined starting in 1983. The purpose of the Convention is to protect children from the harmful effects of international abduction by a parent by encouraging the quick return of the child to their country of habitual residence. Additionally it helps to organize and secure the effective rights of access to a child.
Hague Convention Framework
The Hague Convention framework was created to help countries find solutions for challenging custody cases where a child has been abducted. There are a number of instances where this can occur, but the most common is when a child is wrongfully removed from their habitual home and taken to a foreign country.
When a parent’s custody rights are violated, a custody order is not needed to prove parental parenthood. Additionally, a child being returned to their place of habitual residence does not depend on the immigration status or nationality of the child or their parents.
When an international abduction happens, the Central Authority are responsible for the following:
- Being the point of contact for the parents and children in the international child abduction case.
- Help locate the child.
- Encourage a solution that favors both parents.
- Submit documents as part of the application that are admissible in courts in both countries.
What’s Needed to File a Convention Case California
Filing a case under the Hague Convention doesn’t immediately guarantee the return of a child. First, the following must be demonstrated:
- The child was habitually residing in one Convention country and was wrongfully removed or retained to another.
- The removal or retention was considered wrongful if it was in violation of custodial rights and those rights were being exercised at the time of removal or retention.
- The Convention was in force between the two countries at the time of wrongful removal or retention.
- The child is under 16 years of age.
Hiring a Hague Convention Lawyer
With the difficulty of international child abduction and Hague Convention cases, it’s essential to hire an attorney with extensive international law experience. At Masters Law Group, we are highly experienced in international and family law matters. Our goal is to make the legal system easier to navigate for our clients. We will make sure you clearly understand the legal situation and your rights so you can make the best decisions for you and your family.
Instead of trying to navigate international law issues alone, take advantage of the experience and knowledge of our attorneys at Masters Law Group. We are committed to vigorously representing you in these high-stakes proceedings.
