In this day and age, Child Abduction, both internationally and within the United States, by one parent is not uncommon. The other parent may have ties to another State, or even another country, causing you to fear that your child may be taken without your consent. Interstate and international child abduction issues are complex and have their own areas of the law. When faced with an abduction issue, it is essential to find an experienced attorney with specialized knowledge of the law and process under the Hague Convention for Child Abduction and the Uniform Child Custody Enforcement and Jurisdiction Act (UCCJEA).

Our attorney team has over three decades of experience and specializes in both international and interstate child abduction issues. We understand the unique and complex process and procedures necessary to represent you, whether you are seeking to return a child or objecting to the return of a child. In any case involving the taking or withholding of a child, time is of the essence. Our Team has established a network of experts from all over the world to assist in resolution of your case, wherever you may be located

The ‘Hague Convention’ is an international treaty that numerous countries have signed onto in order to assist in the return of a child to their habitual country of residence and the enforcement of valid court orders. The UCCJEA governs State courts’ authority to make and modify child custody determinations, avoid conflicting orders from different states, and enforce valid custody and visitation orders throughout the United States.

Our team can help you prevent the risk of child abduction, advise you of the next steps when a parent has taken the child to another state or country, assist you in initiating proceedings in the right jurisdiction or court, whether they be Hague proceedings, UCCJEA proceedings, or both, and defend against improperly brought Hague proceedings or custody proceedings brought within the wrong jurisdiction. In both Hague proceedings and UCCJEA proceedings, there are time constraints that make it imperative to act immediately and take action to preserve your rights and your case.

Hague Convention actions can be filed in State Court or Federal Court. Our team is licensed in California and can practice in federal courts throughout the United States. If your child is taken from another country to the United States, or you are defending against a Hague action in the United States, we can represent you in Federal Court in any State, or in any California State Court. If your child has been abducted from the United States to another country, we can advise you, assist you in finding an experienced attorney in the Hague in the other country, and act as an expert for the action in the other country.

Your issue may be time sensitive, please contact our Law Firm to set-up your Initial Consultation.

Please read the FAQs’ prior to your Initial Consultation.