Urgent child abduction (Recovery Orders).
How do I get my child back?
If your child (or children) normally live with you and the other parent (or another person) has your child and is refusing to return them to you, you can apply the the Court for an urgent Recovery Order (depending on the circumstances of your case).
A Recovery Order is an order made by the Court ordering the parent (or person) to return the child to you. If the other parent (or person) does not return the child to you as set out in the Orders made by the Court, the Federal and/or State Police can intervene to recover and return your child to you. Depending on the circumstances of the matter, Recovery Orders may also contain orders prohibiting the person who took the child, from again taking the child.
What happens if my child is taken overseas?
Australia is a signatory to The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, along with more than 70 other counties. The Hague Convention provides a lawful process whereby a parent can seek to have their child returned to their home country. It also provides assistance to parents to obtain contact with or access their child or children overseas.
All counties who are part of The Hague Convention have implemented their own legislation to give effect to the protocols set out in the Convention. If your child has, without your permission, been taken to a country that is signatory to the convention, you can seek to have your child returned to you under The Hague Convention.