Cross-border child abduction by a parent

If a parent or another person leaves Germany with a child previously living here in violation of a right of custody that applies here the left-behind parent or other person with custody rights can assert their rights in various ways. The same applies if a child is abducted from abroad to Germany.

The details can be found in particular in the following legal bases :

• Hague Convention of October 25, 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (BGBl. 1990 II p. 207)
• Council Regulation (EC) No. 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, repealing Regulation (EC) No. 1347/2000 (OJ EU No. L 338 p. 1)
• Council Regulation (EU) No. 2019/1111 of 25 June 2019 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility and international child abduction (OJ EU 2019 No. L 178 p. 1 et seq.)
• the Act on the Establishment and Implementation of Certain Legal Instruments in the Field of International Family Law - International Family Law Procedure Act - of January 26, 2005 (Federal Law Gazette I p. 162)

The central authority within the meaning of the above provisions is the Federal Office of Justice .