Applications for the return of abducted children or access to abducted children

From National Registry of Administrative Public Services



15442e28-5563-4ad0-8499-a92530be4b66 374282 Αιτήσεις επιστροφής απαχθέντων τέκνων ή επικοινωνίας με απαχθέντα τέκνα

At a glance

Points of service

DEPARTMENT OF PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW, MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Digital provision points

  • The service is not provided digitally

Number of required documents

5 to 8

Fees

Provided without cost

Estimated Time

70 days

Description

The procedure concerns cross-border applications for the return of abducted children or access to abducted children. More specifically, the Ministry of Justice, as the Central Authority, shall receive or send applications from or to the relevant foreign authorities regarding the return of children or access to children who were allegedly wrongfully removed or retained in a state other than that where they were habitually resident. The goal is to ensure the safe return of the child or to protect the rights of access of the parent who filed the application.

Basic information

Competent body

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Authority/Public body’s Unit responsible for the institutional framework of the procedure

Related links

Authority responsible for the provision of the procedure

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

Service / organizational unit of a authority entity

DEPARTMENT OF PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

Provided to

Related links


Application

Application Type

Application

Submission by:

Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

Submitted by:

Persons

Title

Application for the return of a child, as provided for in the Hague Convention of 1980.

Notes:

A standard application for the return of an abducted child can be found on the website of the Hague Conference.

What you will need

Means of authentication, identification and signature

Identification document

    Print

    Requirements

      Fees

        Related




        Output & Results

        Output

        Document Production, Launch another procedure

        Steps

          Digital steps

            Other information

            Alternative titles

            Applications under the Hague Convention of 1980, international child abduction, child protection measures, right of access

            Official title

            Applications for the return of abducted children or access to abducted children

            Languages supported

            English, Greek

            Legislation

              Categories

              Τype of procedure

              Trigger

              Applied for

              Trigger (submission method)

              Application (letter), email, Public service / public body document

              Type

              Outgoing
              G1


            • 1 Child’s birth certificate. Municipal Certificates

              Child’s birth certificate.

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 4705

            • 2 A photograph of the child and of the parent who is alleged to have wrongfully removed or retained it. Photographs

              A photograph of the child and of the parent who is alleged to have wrongfully removed or retained it.

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 8298

            • 3 Marriage certificate (where available). Municipal Certificates

              Marriage certificate (where available).

              Relevant link: https://www.gov.gr/en/ipiresies/oikogeneia

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: Yes

              Document’s requirement: Family

              No 4705

            • 4 Copy of divorce ruling (where applicable). Certificate from a court

              Copy of divorce ruling (where applicable).

              Relevant link: https://www.gov.gr/en/arxes/oloi-foreis/dikaiosunes/pistopoietika-dikasterion

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: Yes

              Document’s requirement: Family

              No 8289

            • 5 Copy of judicial decisions on rights of custody (where applicable). Certificate from a court

              Copy of judicial decisions on rights of custody (where applicable).

              Relevant link: https://www.gov.gr/en/arxes/oloi-foreis/dikaiosunes/pistopoietika-dikasterion

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: Yes

              Document’s requirement: Family

              No 8289

            • 6 Documents proving the habitual residence of the child before the wrongful removal or retention (e.g. certificate of attendance at school, certificate from an attending physician). Certificate

              Documents proving the habitual residence of the child before the wrongful removal or retention (e.g. certificate of attendance at school, certificate from an attending physician).

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 9703

            • 7 Proof of the child’s identity (e.g. passport) Identification document

              Proof of the child’s identity (e.g. passport)

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 2244

            • 8 Authorisation to the Central Authority of the requested state to act on behalf of the applicant. Enabling act

              Authorisation to the Central Authority of the requested state to act on behalf of the applicant.

              Relevant link: https://www.gov.gr/en/ipiresies/polites-kai-kathemerinoteta/psephiaka-eggrapha-gov-gr/ekdose-exousiodoteses

              Submission by: Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)

              Submitted by: Persons


              Document submitted under requirements: No


              No 3070

            • Law 2102 1992 193 Α

              Description Ratification of the Hague Convention of 1980 on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

              Legal references https://www.et.gr/api/DownloadFeksApi/?fek pdf=19920100193

            • Law 4020 2011 217 Α

              Description Ratification of the Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Co-operation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children.

              Legal references https://www.et.gr/api/DownloadFeksApi/?fek pdf=20110100217

            • European Regulation 2201 2003

              Description Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 concerning jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility.

              Legal references https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EL/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02003R2201-20050301&qid=1622390635632&from=EL

            • 1 Opening of procedure



              No No


            • 2 Receipt of applications from citizens residing in Greece

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee

              Μethod of Implementation Manual Action

              Description The Ministry of Justice receives from citizens residing in Greece applications for the return of children who are allegedly moved and illegally detained abroad.

              Yes No


            • 3 Control of supporting documents and forwarding of applications to the foreign Central Authorities

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee


              Description The Ministry of Justice shall check whether the application has been duly completed and is accompanied by the necessary supporting documents (otherwise requesting any missing documents) and shall forward the application and the relevant supporting documents to the foreign Central Authority.

              Yes Yes


            • 4 Receipt of applications from foreign Central Authorities and notification of receipt

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description The Ministry of Justice, as a designated Central Authority (CA) for the implementation of the Hague Convention of 1980, shall receive from the relevant foreign CAs any applications filed by citizens for the return of their children who have allegedly been wrongfully removed and retained in Greece at a place other than their former habitual residence. The Ministry of Justice shall notify the foreign Central Authority as soon as possible of the receipt of such applications.

              Yes No


            • 5 Control of supporting documents

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee

              Μethod of Implementation Inspection

              Description The competent employee to whom the case has been assigned shall check whether the application has been duly completed, as well as the supporting documents attached thereto, as indicated in the ‘Supporting Documents’ section. If any supporting documents are found to be missing, the employee shall duly notify the foreign Central Authority and request the additional supporting documents.

              Yes No


            • 6 Inquiries to discover the whereabouts of the child

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee

              Co-responsible for Implementation HELLENIC POLICE

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description If the application, duly completed and accompanied by the required supporting documents, is accepted, the Ministry of Justice shall forward a request in writing to Hellenic Police Headquarters to discover the whereabouts of the child and the parent in Greece.

              Yes No


            • 7 Forwarding or return of an application


              Description If the police inquiries conclude that the child is no longer in Greece but in a different country, the Ministry of Justice shall forward the application to the Central Authority of the country where the child is located. If the inquiry proves unsuccessful, the Ministry of Justice shall return the application to the requesting Central Authority.

              Yes Yes


            • 8 Additional actions

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Department

              Μethod of Implementation Software action

              Description The Ministry of Justice may take additional actions in order to achieve the objectives of the Hague Convention of 1980, such as: facilitating an amicable resolution or the voluntary return of the child, exchanging information relating to the social background of the child with the foreign Central Authority, notifying the countrys courts of the stay of custody proceedings provided for in the Convention until a ruling on whether the child must be returned or not has been rendered.

              Yes No


            • 9 Notification of a foreign Central Authority regarding a judicial decision

              Responsible for Implementation Competent Employee


              Description The Ministry of Justice shall inform the foreign Central Authority of any judicial decision rendered by a Greek court and of the applicant’s right to appeal.

              Yes Yes




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