Due to a wealth of experience in the area of international parental child abduction, Francis Hanna & Co Solicitors have been listed as specialist lawyers for Reunite International, a leading UK charity founded in 1987 to provide advice and support on issues surrounding the international movement of children.

Reunite International is an independent organisation that supports parents, guardians and family members as well as raising the profile of international parental child abduction and family matters globally. The charity established a network of family lawyers who specialise in cases involving the movement of children across international borders to allow those concerned about child abduction issues to obtain appropriate legal advice and assistance from an expert in this highly complex area.

Our Family Law Partner, Claire Edgar commented:

“We are delighted to be listed by Reunite International as one of only a few specialist family law firms in Northern Ireland in this area. 

The issue of parental child abduction was addressed on an international level by the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Cases invoking this Convention can be particularly complex given the application of international case law and the narrow interpretation of the available defences.

It is therefore imperative that clients have access to advice from lawyers with the appropriate experience in dealing with these cases at the earliest opportunity and Reunite's lawyer network provides a clear signpost to such advice. 

At Francis Hanna & Company, our specialism in these cases has grown considerably over the years and we have seen first-hand  the life-changing impact that litigation of this nature can have on clients and their families. We are very proud of our ability to assist clients in successfully navigating  complex legal proceedings relating to parental child abduction and Hague Convention matters.”