Parental Abduction of Child in Spain

This service is for a parent whose child has been taken out of the country by the other parent without the right to do so. This is known as parental child abduction. It is a very painful situation, and the international rules that apply are complex.

How it works

Two sets of international rules deal with this: the 1980 Hague Convention and the EU's Brussels IIb Regulation. The key question is where the child normally lived before being taken.

• The lawyer first looks at your case under these rules.
• They work with the Central Authorities (the government offices in EU countries that handle these cases) to start the process of returning the child.
• The court is meant to decide within six weeks of the case being registered. It looks at custody and contact rights and, where the child is old enough, listens to the child.

What the service covers

• a detailed first talk and a review of your case
• gathering the documents that show where the child lived and what rights you have as a parent
• contact with the Central Authorities to start the return process
• representing you in court
• where needed, helping the courts of the countries involved to communicate
• helping to carry out the court's decision after it is made
• keeping you informed throughout, in English and the local language