International Parental Child Abduction – 1980 Hague Convention

This section of the GlobalARRK website shares information about court decisions (case law) made under the 1980 Hague Convention. It is intended to help you understand how courts generally approach these cases and the defences used.

Many Stuck Parents tell us that legal processes feel hard to follow, especially when emotions are high and time pressures are intense. Reading about other cases can sometimes help you:

  • Understand the language used in court or by legal professionals
  • See the kinds of issues judges consider when making decisions
  • Feel more prepared when speaking to solicitors, support workers etc

Every case is different. Court decisions depend on individual facts, evidence, and the law in the relevant country. Reading about another case cannot tell you what the outcome of your case will be, but it can help guide you to general principles the Court will apply .

We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our legal network member MSB and Katie Camozzi for their invaluable support in creating our first England and Wales Case Law Spreadsheet. Their assistance is helping stuck parents access crucial case law and resources to guide their next steps.
It is very important to remember this is not legal advice and will be up to date at the time of publishing. We strongly recommend you seek legal advice as soon as possible if you are involved in 1980 Hague Convention legal proceedings. 

England and Wales 1980 Hague Convention Cases