Has your child been taken or kept abroad without your consent or knowledge? Have you brought your child to the UK intending to remain, against the wishes or knowledge of their parent? The unauthorised removal or retention of children abroad is a specialised area involving international conventions, English and foreign laws.
Preventing child abduction
Prevention is better than cure. There are practical steps you can take, with our specialist advice and support, if you worry that your child will be taken abroad (which in this context includes to Scotland or Northern Ireland).
Prompt and skilled action must be taken to maximise the chances of a swift return to this country. Child abduction is a skilled topic where you would be ill-advised to venture without the sympathetic and dynamic support which Children’s Law Department at Fisher Meredith can offer.
Determined decision-making and clear thinking on your part are imperative, and our Children’s Law solicitors will be there to help.
If you have brought your child to this country without the consent of their parent abroad, you may have received notice of court action. If so, we encourage you to get in touch with our Children’s Law Department as soon as possible as we are in a position to advise you on the law and to ensure the fair representation of your views.
Important things to consider
Every abduction case requires speedy and determined action. An important factor is the country to which the child has been taken, as it is relatively easier to recover children from those countries which are parties to an international agreement called ‘The Hague Convention on Child Abduction’.
We have prepared a factsheet on child abduction matters. Please click here for more information.
Why use Fisher Meredith?
Fisher Meredith is an award winning London law firm with offices in Richmond, Surrey and Kennington, London. Our Children’s Law solicitors have an outstanding reputation for acting on behalf of individuals with highly successful results.
For 35 years, Fisher Meredith has developed a reputation for being approachable and “going the extra mile” for its clients whilst maintaining ethical and socially responsible standards.
Our solicitors in the Children’s Law department have significant experience of the technicalities and potential pitfalls in child abduction cases. You will benefit from our practical legal and (not least) emotional support should you find yourself in the agonising situation involving the removal or retention of your child either to or from a country abroad.
We maintain important links with ICACU, the International Child Abduction and Contact Unit which liaises with similar agencies in other countries. We have excellent working relationships with specialist barristers who are highly regarded in this area of law.
What should I do now?
If your child has been abducted, or if you have brought your child to this country without the consent of his/her parent abroad, our Children’s Law solicitors can provide you with quality advice to achieve the best possible outcome.
For initial advice or to arrange a meeting with one of our child abduction experts, please contact our helpline on 0800 014 7445.
