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Children's Issues & Family Matters
 

International Parental Child Abduction

The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction came into force between the United States and the United Kingdom on July 1, 1988.  For in-depth information on the workings of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, visit the Department of State's International Parental Child Abduction Page.

What to do if your child has been abducted

From the United States to the United Kingdom:  If your child has been abducted from the United States to the United Kingdom, you should file an application with the U.S. Central Authority at: Application For Assistance Under the Hague Convention on Child Abduction (PDF - 60kb). For guidance and instructions on completing the application form, refer to the U.S. Central Authority's Hague Application Instructions.

From the United Kingdom to the United States:  If your child has been abducted from the United Kingdom to the United States, you should file an application with the UK Central Authority at: http://www.officialsolicitor.gov.uk/os/icacu.htm

Child Custody Solicitors:  The Embassy maintains a list of solicitors who specialize in international child custody issues; for more information, please click on this link:  Child Custody Solicitors (PDF - 100kb)

Preventing Child Abduction

If you are a resident of the United Kingdom and fear that your U.S. citizen child might be taken abroad without your consent, the child’s name can be entered into the Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program (CPIAP) (PDF - 172kb).  Once your child's name is entered into the CPIAP, you will be informed if a passport application is submitted for the child.  Requests for entry of a child’s name into the CPIAP should be mailed or faxed to:

Special Consular Services
Attn: Children's Passport Issuance Alert Program
U.S. Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
London W1A 2LQ
Fax: 020-7495-5012

The request should include a completed and signed entry request form (PDF - 208kb), proof of your identity (copy of your passport or photo driver's license), and the child's birth certificate or other documentation that demonstrates your relationship to the child.  Click here (PDF - 172kb) for more information on the CPIAP.

Other Resources

Intercountry Adoptions

U.S. Adoption Procedures:  The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption came into force for the United States on April 1, 2008.  For in-depth information on intercountry adoptions, both those started before and after implementation of the Hague Convention in the United States, visit the Department of State’s Hague Convention Intercountry Adoption Page.

UK Adoption Procedures:  The UK Department for Education and Skills (DFES) is responsible for adoption policy, domestic and intercountry, in the United Kingdom.  For in-depth information on British adoption regulations, visit the DFES Intercountry Adoption Page.

Child Abuse Registry Checks/Criminal Background Checks:  The UK Government maintains decentralized child abuse registries for 86 of its counties.  However, the child abuse registries are only searchable by the name of an affected child, not/not by the name of an offender.  Information regarding an offender would be found on a UK police certificate, which each prospective adoptive parent would be required to apply for from the UK authorities if they had resided in the United Kingdom for longer than one year.

The information on the child abuse registries (formerly called the Child Protection Register, now called the Integrated Children’s System) can only be accessed by UK-licensed social workers.  Generally, social workers from other countries cannot access the registry due to UK Data Protection Act restrictions.  For more information, see Contact Point.

For information on obtaining criminal background checks, see our page at Criminal Record Checks.

The United States and the United Kingdom concluded a bilateral agreement on child support enforcement on December 17, 2007.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/), is the U.S. Central Authority for this agreement. 

The following information briefly explains the steps parents should take to request enforcement of child support orders when the absent parent is in the other country.  More information is available on the Department of State’s website.

Applications made in the United States for support from a parent in the United Kingdom: Applications should be made to your local Child Support Enforcement Office (IV-D Agency) at your local Department of Human Services.  It is the responsibility of the Child Support Enforcement office to forward the application to the UK Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance Orders Section  (REMO) located within the UK Department for Constitutional Affairs at the following address:

Department For Constitutional Affairs,
REMO Section, Selborne House (4th Floor)
56-60 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6QW
Tel: 0845-345-5303
Website: http://www.dca.gov.uk/family/remo/contents.htm
E-mail: remo@dca.gsi.gov.uk.

The REMO Section will forward the application to the nearest English or Welsh County Court where the absent parent resides and will endeavor to enforce it. 

Applications made in England and Wales for support from a parent in the United States: Applications should be made to the Justices' Clerk of your local Magistrate’s Court.  The Justices' Clerk is required to forward the application to the REMO Section at the Department for Constitutional Affairs as explained above.  It is the responsibility of the REMO Section to forward the application to the Child Support Enforcement Office (IV-D Agency) in the particular U.S. state where the absent parent resides.  That authority will endeavor to enforce the order. 

Child Protection & Neglect Issues

If you wish to discuss a child protection matter, please send an e-mail to: SCSLondon@state.gov

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