Getting Help

We recognize that most left-behind parents have limited resources and legal assistance can be expensive. There are attorneys who will provide services pro bono (free of charge) or for reduced fees. Check with the bar association in your state and with legal aid services for assistance in locating such resources.

The International Parental Kidnapping Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-173) was passed by Congress and signed into law in December 1993. The Act makes international child abduction a federal felony crime and imposes criminal fines and/or a prison term on anyone who removes a child from the United States or unlawfully retains a visiting child in a foreign country. At the time this publication was printed, the U.S. Department of Justice had not provided information regarding procedures for handling these cases. If your child has been taken out of the country, you should contact the office of the U.S. Attorney in your area for information.

You can ask for the names of matrimonial lawyers by contacting:

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2040

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Telephone: (312) 263-6477; Facsimile: (312) 263-7682

 

International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

c/o Nissenbaum Law Offices

88 Broad Street - 4th Floor

Boston, MA 02110

Telephone: (617) 542-2220; Facsimile: (617) 542-2220

  

The Secretariat

13 Claybury, Bushey

Herts WD2 3ES, United Kingdom

Telephone: 011-44-181-950-6452; Facsimile: 011-44-181-950-8895

 

American Bar Association

Section of Family Law

750 North Lake Shore Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60611

Telephone: (312) 988-5613; Facsimile: (312) 988-6281

The Bar Association in your state, asking for the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the chair and council members of the Section of Family Law