Are there timeframes that apply under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction?
A. A number of them, including: • Children who have attained the age of 16 years are not covered by the Convention. • If a child has been wrongfully removed for less than one year, the child’s removal is to be ordered forthwith under the Convention. • If a child has been wrongfully removed for more than one year, the child should still be returned but an exception is allowed -a court may choose not to return the child if there is evidence that the child is settled in his/her new environment. • Courts should act quickly in such cases but if one has not reached a decision within six weeks from the date proceedings commenced, an applicant or the Central Authority of the requested State may officially request a reason for the delay. • The Convention only applies to wrongful removals/retentions occurring after the treaty became effective between the involved countries. • Generally, the Convention requires that countries act without delay in child abduction cases that fall within its paramet
