Notes on Switzerland and International Child Abduction

Blog The Swiss Central Authority under the Hague Abduction Convention is the Federal Office of Justice in Berne. The Convention entered in force in Switzerland on January 1, 1984. The implementing legislation is the Federal Act of 21 December 2007 on International Child Abduction and the Hague Conventions on the Protection of Children and Adults, […]

Preventing International Child Abductions

Blog International family law is expanding as people travel more and spend time with people from different countries. International personal relationships produce an abundance of conflict and litigation. It is hard enough for people to live together when they share a similar background, but it is far harder when they are from different countries, cultures, […]

Expats with Children: Top Tips from an International Family Lawyer

Blog I have worked for many years counseling international parents around the world about their international child custody issues. Here are some of my “international family lawyer’s best tips” for clients with children who may move overseas. This article does not deal with financial issues except as they may relate to children issues. 1. Before you […]

Preventing International Child Abduction through the Prevent Departure Program

Blog The Secretary of State’s office advises judges that “the United States does not have exit controls.  This means that U.S. citizens may leave the country without interference from or detection by the U.S. government.  Additionally, the Department of State cannot track a child’s ultimate destination through his or her use of a U.S. Passport […]

LEBANON AND INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION

Blog The U.K. Government has just issued its latest “Lebanon travel advice.” With respect to international parental child abduction in Lebanon the U.K. Government has issued the following specific warning: Child Abduction One of the most common requests for consular assistance in Lebanon is from British mothers seeking help in overturning travel bans placed on […]

Canadian Border, Passport Controls and International Child Abduction

Blog A recently issued (July 2015) Canadian Parliamentary Report, entitled Alert: Challenges and International Mechanisms to Address Cross-Border Child Abduction – contains a helpful analysis of Canada’s exit controls and passport controls. Relevant portions are reprinted below, without footnotes. Border Controls In cases where an abducted child is entering Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency […]

Put Japan on U.S. sanctions list for parental abductions: Washington Post editorial

Blog WASHINGTON – Japan should be included in a U.S. government list of the countries subject to sanctions over parental abductions, The Washington Post said in an editorial in its Wednesday online edition. The U.S. newspaper cited Japan as an example of a country that does not actively address the problem of cross-border child abductions by parents […]

English Case: Zimbabwe Child Has No Habitual Residence

Blog In an interesting case on habitual residence, on July 30th an English court ruled that a 15 year old child passing through England en route “home” from Switzerland to Zimbabwe had no habitual residence and that in the absence thereof England could and should assert custody jurisdiction under the 1996 Hague Child protection Convention. In the […]

Ancient Egyptian Women Had Prenups Taller Than Their Husbands

Blog Long before Kanye was around to deem them “Gold Diggers,” ancient Egyptian women were planting their feet in the sand and demanding some pretty progressive rights given the time period. According to Atlas Obscura, women in ancient Egypt shared many of the same rights as men, including the right to demand prenuptial agreements that guaranteed financial stability […]

Getting Your Child Back After a Summer Visit Overseas

Blog Many children whose parents are separated are spending this summer away from home on vacation in the country of origin of one of their parents. Usually such visits are great, providing excellent and important benefits to the children and their parents. But sometimes – and it happens all too often – as the date […]