NORTHERN IRELAND COURT SERVICE
Central Authority for child abduction matters

The material provided here has been prepared by the Northern Ireland Court Service, which is the Central Authority for Northern Ireland for the following international agreements: -

• Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (the Abduction Convention)
• Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 (Revised Brussels II also know as Brussels IIa)
• European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Concerning Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children (the European Convention)

Information for parents and their legal advisors

• Has your child been taken overseas without your consent?
• Is your child being kept overseas against your wishes?
• Are you worried that your child will be taken overseas without your consent?
• Have you brought your child into Northern Ireland from abroad?
• Are you being denied contact with your child overseas?

If the answer to any of the above questions is yes, this website contains important information which can help you. The material provided here has been prepared by the Civil Policy Division of the Northern Ireland Court Service.

The information contained on this website is for guidance only and is not intended to be a definitive statement of the law.  If you require legal advice, you should contact a solicitor.

• Introduction
• Enforcement of contact/access orders
• The Central Authority
• The Law in Northern Ireland
• How child abduction cases are handled 
• Countries in the Conventions
• Child Abduction within the UK 
• Advice to parents – your child has been taken to a Convention country
• Advice to parents – your child has been taken to a Non–Convention country
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Preventing Child Abduction
• Application (Questionnaire)
• Notes for Guidance
• Useful Addresses and Links