Hague Convention Attorneys in Dallas

Representing Clients in International Child Abduction & Adoption Cases

“The Hague Convention” can refer to a number of international treaties, but there are two that govern International child abduction and adoption matters. Respectively, these are the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) and the Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption(Hague Adoption Convention).

If you need legal assistance to recover a child abducted across international borders or to secure an international adoption, you can turn to Mathur Law Offices, P.C. for help. Our firm has more than 20 years of experience advocating for clients in family law disputes – even those that involve international laws and treaties. Our Hague Convention attorneys in Dallas are dedicated to our clients and will fight hard to reunite children with their parents and help U.S. citizens with the international adoption process.

For more information about our services, please get in touch with us online or call (888) 867-5191 to schedule a case evaluation with our team.

Helping Parents Recover Internationally Abducted Children

As a parent, one of your worst fears is realizing that someone has abducted your child and taken them to another country. In many cases, this individual is an ex-spouse, a child’s other parent, or another relative. Unfortunately, children are often abducted during a custody or visitation dispute or in violation of a related court order.

The Hague Abduction Convention is very clear that custody and visitation disputes must be resolved in the child’s home country (their habitual residence). It also ensures that the rights of custody and visitation established in a signatory country are respected internationally.

This means that if someone has illegally abducted your child across international borders, our Hague Convention attorneys in Dallas can help you fight to secure their safe return. It’s important to reach out to someone for help as soon as possible because it may be more difficult to recover a child when more than a year has elapsed before filing for a Hague Application.

We at Mathur Law Offices, P.C. have the experience and skill it takes to advocate for parents on U.S. soil who need to assert their parental rights and retrieve their children from another country.

Are You Seeking an International Adoption?

Sometimes parents in the U.S. wish to expand their families by adopting children from other countries. When the intended adoptee resides in a Hague Adoption Convention country – of which there are more than 100 – parents must follow the treaty’s adoption procedure. This is why it’s important to have someone like our Hague Convention attorneys in Dallas represent your interests and ensure that the proper procedure is followed.

A child is eligible for a Hague Convention adoption under the following circumstances:

• The child is younger than 16 at the time their immigrant visa petition (Form I-800) is filed
• The child is unmarried
• The child lives in a Hague Adoption Convention country
• The child’s birth parents or other legal custodians consent to the adoption freely and in writing

The child must be adopted by:

• A married U.S. citizen and their spouse; or
• An unmarried U.S. citizen who is at least 25 years old
• A married or unmarried U.S. citizen who habitually resides in the U.S.
• A married or unmarried U.S. citizen whom USCIS has cleared for adoption by approving Form I-800A
• A married or unmarried U.S. citizen who intends to create a legal parent-child relationship

When the adoption takes place in the Hague Adoption Convention country, an IH-3 visa is required for their entry into the U.S. Adopted children younger than 18 automatically become U.S. citizens when they enter the U.S. with an IH-3 visa. No additional forms or fees are required for this.

When the adoption takes place within the U.S., an IH-4 visa is required to bring the child into the country. Children are considered lawful permanent residents until the adoption is completed; at that time, they acquire U.S. citizenship.

The full list of Hague Convention countries;

Do You Need a Hague Convention Attorney near Dallas?

Whether you are trying to recover a child who was abducted into a foreign country or adopt a child from another country, Mathur Law Offices, P.C. can provide the legal representation you need. Our firm’s lawyers are passionate advocates for our clients and understand what’s at risk when someone comes to us with a Hague Convention issue.

Rest assured that we will treat your case with personalized attention to the details and provide a legal strategy that can optimize your potential outcomes. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help, please schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys today.

You can get in touch with Mathur Law Offices, P.C. online or by calling (888) 867-5191.