If necessary, the Courts Group will arrange for translations and will then forward the application to the Central Authority of the country to which the child has been taken. The Courts Group will, thereafter, maintain contact between the applicant and the authorities abroad and will do all it can to press for a speedy resolution. The countries covered by the conventions all have different legal systems and it is important to remember that although each country will apply the same principles, their procedures may be very different. A certificate allowing the applicant to receive legal aid without enquiry into resources or merits will also be forwarded to the firm of solicitors. Any court hearings will be in the Court of Session in Edinburgh although applicants are not normally required to attend.
Procedures are in place to ensure that such cases are held as quickly as possible.
Advice about how to make an application to the Courts Group can be obtained from your local Central Authority. This is a charitable organisation whose main aims are to prevent child abduction and to advise on the recovery of those children who have been abducted.