Reunite International is an independent charity supporting parents, guardians and family members dealing with international parental child abduction and international matters.
About Reunite International
Reunite International was founded in 1987 and is an organisation committed to raising the profile of international parental child abduction. Reunite International provide resources for parents, guardians and family members who face issues related to child abduction and international relocation.
The resources include:
- Initial website information – this takes the form of questions with an initial outline of the considerations, such as “is the country your child has been taken from/to a Hague Convention country?” These are set out to provide a starting point to assess your situation, along with a list of things to consider.
- Advice line – this operates during the week, with an emergency out-of-hours redirection if needed.
- Specialist mediation – Reunite International has a team of specialist mediators who are able to help you to open up a channel of communication with the other parent with the aim of working towards a solution which keeps all parties safe and included.
- Specialist lawyer recommendations – the Reunite International website provides a list of lawyers who have specialist expertise in assisting families with international children issues. The list is provided with the aim of helping parents to find the specialist advice they need. It is possible to search by county within the UK and by country overseas.
Key areas
The scope of the advice and support Reunite International can offer extends to:
- Parental child abduction – whether you fear your child may be at risk of abduction or has been taken to another country by the other parent or you are being told that you have abducted your child.
- International relocation – looking at the key legal implications of relocating to another country with a child and the steps you need to take to ensure that any relocation is not considered parental child abduction.
- International contact – how to approach putting in place agreements for contact if your child resides in another country.
When do you need to seek advice?
We have spoken about needing to seek advice at the earliest opportunity if you fear that your child may be at risk of abduction or has been taken to another country, or if you are being told that you have abducted your child. Due to the nature of these complex situations, circumstances can vary greatly and can be more nuanced. Situations giving rise to the need to seek advice from a specialist children law solicitor can include:
- Your child’s other parent talking about taking an extended holiday with your child – perhaps to a country where they have connections and where they have not discussed their return plans;
- Your child’s passport has gone missing and you believe the other parent may have taken it;
- Your child’s other parent and your child are on holiday together and you have not had any contact from them or contact has stopped, in circumstances giving you cause for concern.
International children law is extremely complex. Ann Thomas, consultant in the Family Law team at Stephens Scown has written an article telling the story of Anna and her son Oliver which highlights some of the issues that can arise and why early advice is essential.
Our role
Stephens Scown is listed on the Reunite International Lawyers list for both Devon and Cornwall and can advise clients across the South West, nationally and internationally in relation to international family law issues including child abduction.
The lawyers who appear on the Reunite International Lawyers list have met stringent criteria in order to be listed and approved as specialists to assist parents in this complex area. Our team are delighted to be a part of this expert panel providing this essential support to parents.
Stephens Scown have specialist children law solicitors who can assist you if you have concerns about your child being abducted or you are being told that you have abducted your child. We can also advise you if you wish to relocate with your child internationally and help you to plan and navigate the necessary steps you need to take in order to achieve this safely.
Every situation is unique and it is therefore vital to seek specialised legal advice as early as possible in international family cases to ensure the best outcomes for the children involved and the wider family.