The countries listed below serve as signatories to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The date indicates when the treaty became effective with the United States. In cases where a child is abducted to a country that is not party to the Hague Convention, parents may request the foreign court where the child is located to recognize the United States custody order. Every country has different laws regarding the filing of foreign custody orders, so you should first consult an attorney in that country for legal advice. Criminal Action Law-enforcement authorities in the United States and abroad may be a valuable source of information and assistance.
Parental kidnapping is a crime in every U.S. state and a felony in most.
The first step to recovering your child is to make a missing children s report with the local police. This listing, which is mandatory through the Missing Children s Assistance Act of 1980, allows law enforcement throughout the United States to be notified about a missing child. The searching parent should discuss with local law enforcement and the state or federal prosecutor the possibility of filing criminal charges against the abducting parent. For assistance in reporting your child as missing or understanding your state law for missing children, contact your state law enforcement clearinghouse . Clearly, the easiest solution to the problem of international child abduction is to prevent it from happening.