This situation can  arise as a result of family breakdown where one parent has family outside  England and Wales and returns to that family with their children without the consent of either the other parent or the Court.

If parents believe there is an imminent risk of abduction there are emergency steps that can be taken to prevent the removal and protect the child. Urgent legal advice should be sought immediately.  Public Funding is usually available.

How Osbornes family solicitors can help prevent child abduction

If you are concerned that the other parent may try to abduct your child or permanently remove them from the UK, we can apply to the court for a Prohibited Steps order, a Residence order and/or a Parental Responsibility order as is most appropriate to your case. This will state that your child cannot be taken out of the UK and may even require the surrender of your child's passport.

We can also assist you in alerting the police so that a picture and other details of your child can be circulated to the relevant authorities including the Passport Agency, as well as notifying all ports and border agents.

In the situation where the other parent has dual citizenship we can help you draft a letter to the embassy or consulate of any other country where the other parent may attempt to obtain a passport for your child. We can ask them not to issue a passport, although we cannot force them to do so.

How Osbornes family solicitors can help recover an abducted child from a foreign country

If your child has been taken to an EU country which subscribes to the Hague Convention or the European Convention, an application can be made to the country your child has been taken to for your child to be returned.

Generally speaking, these conventions recognise that the child's best interests are served by remaining in the country where they have grown up.

If your child has been taken to a country that does not subscribe to these international agreements, we can assist you in obtaining advice on the laws in the country where your child has been taken to and how to make an application for the return of your child under those laws.

Your next step

If you are worried that your child is under threat of being abducted or has already been abducted contact us urgently for assistance.

To contact us:

• Fill in our online enquiry form

• Contact Simone or Mark
  

• Call us on 020 7485 8811.
  

Details of the whole family team are available on the family law teams’ page.

The family department is recommended as a leading firm in independent legal directories Chambers & Partners and Legal 500.