Your ex-partner is taking your children without consent

Summary

Call the police on 999 if you think your children will be taken out of the UK in the next 48 hours. The police can issue a ‘port alert’ which will stop them being taken out of the UK. Find out more about port alerts on GOV.UK. Try to hide their passports or stop them getting a passport - find out how to stop someone getting a passport on GOV.UK. Get legal advice straight away – find a solicitor who can deal with child abduction cases on GOV.UK. You might be able to get legal aid to help you pay for legal advice. If you need help finding a solicitor or with legal fees, talk to an adviser. Show your solicitor and the police any evidence you have that your ex-partner is planning to take them abroad - for example texts, emails and tickets. You might be able to get help from other authorities - check your options on GOV.UK. You can get further advice over the phone or online from Reunite \- a charity which helps with cases of child abduction to foreign countries. If you can’t agree where your children will live, you should go to mediation. A professional mediator will try to help you come to an agreement that works for you and your children. You’ll normally need to show that you’ve.

Key information

• •your ex-partner hasn’t returned your child when they should have
• •Call the police on 999 if you think your children will be taken out of the UK in the next 48 hours. The police can issue a ‘port alert’ which will stop them being taken out of the UK. Find out more about port alerts on GOV.UK.
• •Try to hide their passports or stop them getting a passport - find out how to stop someone getting a passport on GOV.UK.
• •Get legal advice straight away – find a solicitor who can deal with child abduction cases on GOV.UK.
• •You might be able to get legal aid to help you pay for legal advice. If you need help finding a solicitor or with legal fees, talk to an adviser.
• •Show your solicitor and the police any evidence you have that your ex-partner is planning to take them abroad - for example texts, emails and tickets.
• •You might be able to get help from other authorities - check your options on GOV.UK.
• •You can get further advice over the phone or online from Reunite \- a charity which helps with cases of child abduction to foreign countries.
• •If you can’t agree where your children will live, you should go to mediation. A professional mediator will try to help you come to an agreement that works for you and your children.
• •You’ll normally need to show that you’ve tried mediation before you apply to court. There are exceptions that mean you don’t have to try mediation first - for example, if you’ve experienced domestic abuse. Check how mediation works.
• •You should make sure you have parental responsibility. All mothers and most fathers do. If you’re not sure, you can check if you have parental responsibility on GOV.UK and apply if you don't.
• •If you’ve tried mediation, you can apply to court for a ‘prohibited steps order’.

Practical guidance

• •Source: [Your ex-partner is taking your children without consent](https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/family/making-agreements-about-your-children/your-ex-partner-is-taking-your-children-without-consent/)

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