If you are concerned that your child or children may be abducted abroad by their other parent or another family member, then contact us for advice.
If you are concerned that your child or children may be abducted abroad by their other parent or another family member, then contact us for advice. We may be able to apply for a Child Arrangements or other Order to stop your child from being taken out of the country. Depending on which country your child has been taken to, you may also need to appoint a lawyer based abroad.
You should also report the abduction to the local police. If your child has been taken abroad but you do not know their location, the police can contact Interpol. Interpol may be able to work with police forces abroad to help find your child.
You can ask your local police to issue a ‘Port Alert’ if your child is likely to be taken abroad (within 48 hours) without the consent of all of those with parental responsibility. A Port Alert means the police can contact the National Border Targeting Centre to alert all UK points of departure and try to prevent an abduction. It is active for 28 days, allowing you to seek legal advice if you have not already done so. You will need a court order to extend it beyond this time.
We can check if your child is in a country to which the 1980 Hague Convention on International Child Abduction applies. The Convention is an agreement between various countries, which can help return an abducted child who is under 16 years old to the country where they usually live.
Zoe is the Head of our Private Family law team. Zoe works closely with her clients assisting them through what are often stressful and difficult circumstances.
Head of Private Family Department
