Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985

1. Introductory Text

2. Part I International Child Abduction

   1. 1. The Hague Convention.

   2. 2. Contracting States.

   3. 3. Central Authorities.

   4. 4. Judicial authorities.

   5. 5. Interim powers.

   6. 6. Reports.

   7. 7. Proof of documents and evidence.

   8. 8. Declarations by United Kingdom courts.

   9. 9. Suspension of court’s powers in cases of wrongful removal.

   10. 10. Rules of court.

   11. 11. Cost of applications.

3. Part II Recognition and Enforcement of Custody Decisions

   1. 12. The European Convention.

   2. 13. Contracting States.

   3. 14. Central Authorities.

   4. 15. Recognition of decisions.

   5. 16. Registration of decisions.

   6. 17. Variation and revocation of registered decisions.

   7. 18. Enforcement of decisions.

   8. 19. Interim powers.

   9. 20. Suspension of court’s powers.

   10. 21. Reports.

   11. 22. Proof of documents and evidence.

   12. 23. Decisions of United Kingdom courts.

   13. 24. Rules of court.

   14. 24A. Power to order disclosure of child’s whereabouts.

4. Part III Supplementary

   1. 25. Termination of existing custody orders, etc.

   2. 26. Expenses.

   3. 27. Interpretation.

   4. 28. Application as respects British Islands and colonies.

   5. 29. Short title, commencement and extent.

5. SCHEDULES

   1. SCHEDULE 1

      Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

      1. Chapter I—Scope of the Convention

         1. Article 3

            1. The removal or the retention of a child is to...

         2. Article 4

            1. The Convention shall apply to any child who was habitually...

         3. Article 5

            1. For the purposes of this Convention— (a) “rights of custody”...

      2. Chapter II—Central Authorities

         1. Article 7

            1. Central Authorities shall co-operate with each other and promote co-operation...

            2. In particular, either directly or through any intermediary, they shall...

      3. Chapter III—Return of Children

         1. Article 8

            1. Any person, institution or other body claiming that a child...

            2. The application shall contain— (a) information concerning the identity of...

         2. Article 9

            1. If the Central Authority which receives an application referred to...

         3. Article 10

            1. The Central Authority of the State where the child is...

         4. Article 11

            1. The judicial or administrative authorities of Contracting States shall act...

            2. If the judicial or administrative authority concerned has not reached...

         5. Article 12

            1. Where a child has been wrongfully removed or retained in...

            2. The judicial or administrative authority, even where the proceedings have...

            3. Where the judicial or administrative authority in the requested state...

         6. Article 13

            1. Notwithstanding the provisions of the preceding Article, the judicial or...

            2. In considering the circumstances referred to in this Article, the...

         7. Article 14

            1. In ascertaining whether there has been a wrongful removal or...

         8. Article 15

            1. The judicial or administrative authorities of a Contracting State may,...

         9. Article 16

            1. After receiving notice of a wrongful removal or retention of...

         10. Article 17

             1. The sole fact that a decision relating to custody has...

         11. Article 18

             1. The provisions of this Chapter do not limit the power...

         12. Article 19

             1. A decision under this Convention concerning the return of the...

      4. Chapter IV—Rights of Access

         1. Article 21

            1. An application to make arrangements for organising or securing the...

            2. The Central Authorities are bound by the obligations of co-operation...

      5. Chapter V—General Provisions

         1. Article 22

            1. No security, bond or deposit, however described, shall be required...

         2. Article 24

            1. Any application, communication or other document sent to the Central...

         3. Article 26

            1. Each Central Authority shall bear its own costs in applying...

            2. Central Authorities and other public services of Contracting States shall...

            3. However, a Contracting State may, by making a reservation in...

            4. Upon ordering the return of a child or issuing an...

         4. Article 27

            1. When it is manifest that the requirements of this Convention...

         5. Article 28

            1. A Central Authority may require that the application be accompanied...

         6. Article 29

            1. This Convention shall not preclude any person, institution or body...

         7. Article 30

            1. Any application submitted to the Central Authorities or directly to...

         8. Article 31

            1. In relation to a State which in matters of custody...

         9. Article 32

            1. In relation to a State which in matters of custody...

   2. SCHEDULE 2

      European Convention on Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Concerning Custody of Children

      1. Article 1

         1. For the purposes of this Convention: (a) “child” means a...

      2. Article 4

         1. (1) Any person who has obtained in a Contracting State...

      3. Article 5

         1. (1) The central authority in the State addressed shall take...

      4. Article 7

         1. A decision relating to custody given in a Contracting State...

      5. Article 9

         1. (1) [Recognition and enforcement may be refused] if:

      6. Article 10

         1. (1) [Recognition and enforcement may also be refused] on any...

      7. Article 11

         1. (1) Decisions on rights of access and provisions of decisions...

      8. Article 12

         1. Where, at the time of the removal of a child...

      9. Article 13

         1. (1) A request for recognition or enforcement in another Contracting...

      10. Article 15

          1. (1) Before reaching a decision under paragraph (1)(b) of Article...

      11. Article 26

          1. (1) In relation to a State which has in matters...

   3. SCHEDULE 3

      CUSTODY ORDERS

      1. Part I England and Wales

         1. 1. The following are the orders referred to in section 27(1)...

         2. 2. An order made by the High Court in the exercise...

         3. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

         4. 4. An authorisation given by the Secretary of State under section...

      2. Part II Scotland

         1. 5. An order made by a court of civil jurisdiction in...

         2. 6. A supervision requirement made by a children’s hearing under section...

         3. 7. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      3. Part III Northern Ireland

         1. 8. The following orders— (a) a care order under the Children...

         2. 9. An order made by the High Court in the exercise...

         3. 10. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .