Guidance on Completing the Hague Application Form

Please speak to your attorney and your country officer before completing your Hague application package.

Sections I-IV of the Hague application form ask for location and contact information. Sections V-IX are open-ended questions. Please provide as much information as possible and attach additional sheets of paper if necessary.

Section I: First Child Subject of Application

This section ask for information about the child for whom you are filing the Hague Convention Applicaiton.

Child's Name - The child's full legal name: last name, first, middle
Date of Birth - Month/Day/Year
Place of Birth - City/State/Country
Address - Child's address in the country of habitual residence at the time of the abduction or removal.
U.S. Social Security Number - A nine-digit number: 000-00-0000 (if known)
Passport/Identity Card - Issuing country and passport or I.D. number (if known)
Address and Telephone Number of Child’s Current Location (if known) – Please provide any address information or details that may help locate the child.
Citizenship - Include all citizenships held by the child (e.g. U.S., Canadian).
Height - Feet and inches
Weight - Pounds
Sex - Male or Female
Color of Hair - Child's hair color
Color of Eyes - Child’s eye color (Include color photo, if available.)
Name of Child’s Father if not Listed in Section II or III - The father’s full name: last name, first, middle
Name of Child’s Mother if not Listed in Section II or III - The mother’s full name: last name, first, middle

Section II: Applicant (Person or Institution Seeking Return of/Access to Child/ren)

This section asks for information about the person or institution applying for return of or access to the child.

Name - Full name of applicant: last name, first, middle
Date of Birth - Month/Day/Year
Place of Birth - City/State/Country
Relationship to Child/ren- Relationship of the applicant requesting return/access to the child (e.g. mother, father)
Citizenship(s) - List all citizenships held by the requester (e.g. United States, Canadian)
U.S. Social Security Number - A nine-digit number: 000-00-0000.
Passport/Identity Card - Issuing country and passport or I.D. number.
Current Address, Telephone Number, and Email Address – Include mailing address, home telephone, work telephone, fax number, and email address.
Occupation – Occupation of the requester.
Name, Address and Telephone Number of Legal Adviser, if any - Include zip code as well as telephone and fax numbers. Some of this information may be the same as that already given.

Section III: Person Alleged to Have Wrongfully Removed or Retained the Child

This section ask for information about the person alleged to have abducted or retained the child. The information about the taking parent is needed to assist in locating the child.

Name - Full name of parent alleged to have abducted or wrongfully retained the child.
Date of Birth - Month/Day/Year
Place of Birth - City/State/Country
Relationship to Child/ren- Relationship of the alleged abductor/retainer to the child (e.g. mother, father)
Citizenship(s) - List all citizenships held by the alleged abductor/retainer (e.g. United States, Canadian)
U. S. Social Security Number - A nine-digit number: 000-00-0000 (if known).
Passport/Identity Card - Issuing country and passport or I.D. number (if known).
Occupation, Name and Address of Employer - Provide any employment information that may be helpful in locating the alleged abductor/retainer, such as usual type of work, potential employers or employment agencies.
Known Aliases - Any other names the alleged abductor/retainer may use.
Address and Telephone Number of Current Location - Location of the alleged abductor/retainer in the country where the child was taken.
Height - Feet and inches
Weight - Pounds
Color of Hair – Alleged abductor/retainer's hair color.
Color of Eyes - Alleged abductor/retainer's eye color. (Include color photo, if available.)

Section IV: Additional Child Subject of Application

This section asks for information about any additional child for whom you are invoking the Hague Convention. Provide the following information for EACH child.

Child's Name - The child's full name: last name, first, middle
Date of Birth - Month/Day/Year
Place of Birth - City/State/Country
Address - Child's address in the country of habitual residence at the time of the abduction or removal.
U.S. States Social Security Number - A nine-digit number: 000-00-0000 (if known)
Passport/Identity Card - Issuing country and passport or I.D. number (if known)
Address and Telephone Number of Child’s Current Location (if known) – Please provide any address information or details that may help locate the child.
Citizenship - Include all citizenships held by the child (e.g. U.S., Canadian).
Height - Feet and inches
Weight - Pounds
Sex - Male or Female
Color of Hair - Child's hair color
Color of Eyes - Child’s eye color (Include color photo, if available.)
Name of Child’s Father if not Listed in Section II or III - The father’s full name (if it is not listed later in section II or III)
Name of Child’s Mother if not Listed in Section II or III - The mother’s full name (if it is not listed later in section II or III)

Section V: Time, Place, Date, and Circumstances of the Wrongful Removal or Retention

This section ask for a description of the circumstances of the removal or retention of the child.

Provide the date, that the child left the United States or when the wrongful retention began. Include the place from which the child was taken.
Describe the legal relationship (married, divorced, never married) existing between you and the taking parent at the time the child was removed/retained.
Describe the circumstances under which the child was removed/retained. What were the circumstances leading up to the removal or retention? How did you learn of the removal/retention? Did the taking parent remove/retain the child during a scheduled visitation? Did he/she take the child for what you believed would be a short visit and then inform you that they were staying? Did he/she purchase round-trip air tickets to show that they intended to return? Did you and your family moved to the other country, and then you decided to return to the United States?
Additional pages may be attached to fully describe the circumstances.

Section VI: Factual and Legal Justification for the Request

This section asks for a description of the legal basis for invoking the Hague Convention.

Provide details that establish the child’s place of habitual residence.
Provide information and documentation establishing that you had, and were exercising, or would have been exercising but for the removal or retention of the child, a right of custody at the time of the child's removal. Generally, a right of custody is created by a custody order when parents are divorced, or by operation of state law. As stated, the Convention defines "rights of custody" as including "rights relating to the care of the child and, in particular, the right to determine the child's place of residence." Thus, you may have a "right of custody" as defined by the Convention even if you do not have court-ordered joint or sole custody of the child, or custodial rights by operation of law.
Indicate any civil action (In the United States or abroad) that may be pending (e.g. custody, divorce proceedings). List the names of the court, contact information, docket numbers and hearing dates. If there is no applicable court order, please provide a copy of the state statue, case law, or an affidavit of law prepared by an attorney that establishes your right of custody at the time of the child's removal. This provision of the law may sometimes be found in the domestic relations, guardianship or estate and wills section of the state code.
Indicate any civil action (in the United States or abroad) that may be pending (e.g. custody, divorce). List the name of the court, contact information, docket numbers and hearing dates.

Section VII: Proposed Arrangements for Return Travel of Child

This asks for how the child will return to the United States if a return is ordered.

For example, would you travel to pick up the child, or would someone go in your place? Is the child old enough to travel by him or herself? Is there someone in the foreign country who could return with the child? Would the child travel by car, train, airplane? Be specific. Include:

Provide name, date/place of birth, telephone number, and address of person to whom child will be returned.

Section VIII: Other Persons with Additional Information Relating to the Whereabouts of the Children

This asks for information concerning anyone else who may be able to provide information helpful in locating the child. These persons should be in the country where the child is located.

Provide names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of anyone who could potentially give the Central Authority in the country of the child's current location information of the child's whereabouts.

Section IX: Other Relevant Information

This section asks for any other information that may be pertinent to the Hague application.

Indicate whether you are applying for return or access under the Convention.
Sign and date the application in BLUE or Black ink.

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