The Federal Republic of Germany is a Contracting State to a number of international conventions which include provisions on how to resolve international custody conflicts. The Federal Office of Justice is Germany’s Central Authority. Here, you will find information on the return of abducted children and on cross-border access and custody matters.

The Federal Office of Justice, as Germany’s Central Authority, is in charge of tasks in the area of child protection that involve cross-border co-operation and mutual assistance between authorities. You will find further information here.

If German courts or authorities intend to place a child in a home or with a foster family in another Member State of the European Union (with the exception of Denmark), a consultation procedure must be carried out under Article 82 of the Brussels II b Regulation. You will find further information here.

The Hague Child Abduction Convention has over 90 Contracting States. You will find an overview of them here.