Danish rules

Act on International Enforcement of Custody Decisions and Act on the 1996 Hague Convention.

Act on International Enforcement of Custody Decisions

The Hague Convention and the European Convention have been implemented in Denmark by Act No. 793 of 27 November 1990 on International Enforcement of Custody Decisions, etc. (International Child Abduction).

Scope of the Act

The Act lays down rules about the following:

  • Establishment of a central authority
  • Tasks of the Central Authority
  • Recognition and enforcement of decisions on custody, the child’s residence and rights of access under the Hague Convention and the European Convention
  • Proceedings in the family court concerning cases on recognition and enforcement under the two conventions
  • Questions of jurisdiction to make decisions on custody in abduction cases

The Act applies to the situations where a child has been abducted from abroad to Denmark. Except for section 20 (decision to the effect that the child has been wrongfully removed from Denmark) and Part 6a (legal aid), the Act does not apply to situations where a child has been abducted abroad from Denmark.

The Act only applies to children under the age of 16.

Act on the 1996 Hague Convention

The 1996 Hague Convention has been implemented in Denmark by Act No. 434 of 8 May 2006 on the 1996 Hague Convention, which became effective 1 October 2011.

Scope of the Act

The Act lays down rules about the following:

  • Establishment of a central authority
  • Recognition and enforcement of decisions on custody, the child’s residence and rights of access under the 1996 Hague Convention
  • Proceedings in the family court concerning cases regarding the convention

The Act applies to the situations where a child has been abducted from abroad to Denmark. The Act does not apply to situations where a child has been abducted abroad from Denmark.

The Act only applies to children under the age of 18.

You can find more information about the individual fields of application on this website.