Publication of the Recommended Model Forms for use under the 1993 Adoption Convention
The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the publication of the Recommended Model Forms for use under the 1993 Adoption Convention. The Model Forms are intended to simplify and facilitate compliance with the 1993 Adoption Convention by assisting Contracting Parties in the collection of relevant information. They contain important information regarding safeguards established by the 1993...
Albania signs the 2005 Choice of Court Convention and the 2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol
Today, 13 February 2024, Mr Ulsi Manja, Minister of Justice, signed, on behalf of the Republic of Albania, the Convention of 30 June 2005 on Choice of Court Agreements (2005 Choice of Court Convention) and the Protocol of 23 November 2007 on the Law Applicable to Maintenance Obligations (2007 Maintenance Obligations Protocol). The 2005 Choice of Court, which currently binds 32 States and the...
Sixth Meeting of the Working Group on Jurisdiction
From 29 January to 2 February 2024, the Working Group on Matters Related to Jurisdiction in Transnational Civil or Commercial Litigation met for the sixth time. The meeting, held in hybrid format, was attended by 63 experts in total, of which 29 attended in person. The experts represented 21 HCCH Members and 2 Observers. Several staff members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH also attended the...
Fifth Meeting of the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group
From 29 to 31 January 2024, the International Transfer of Maintenance Funds Experts’ Group (ITMFEG) met for the fifth time. The meeting, held online, was attended by 54 experts in total, representing 22 HCCH Members, and one Observer. Several staff members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH also attended the meeting. Pursuant to its mandate by the Council on General Affairs and...
Child Support Convention enters into force for Canada
Today, 1 February 2024, the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention) entered into force for Canada, following the deposit of its instrument of ratification on 27 October 2023. At present, 49 States and the European Union are bound by the 2007 Child Support Convention. More information...
Second Meeting of the Working Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption
From 24 to 26 January 2024, the Working Group on the Financial Aspects of Intercountry Adoption met for the second time. The meeting, held online, was attended by 39 experts in total, representing 16 Member States, three non-Member Contracting Parties, and three Observers. Several staff members of the Permanent Bureau of the HCCH also attended the meeting. The mandate of the Working...
The United Kingdom signs the 2019 Judgments Convention
Today, 12 January 2024, Lord Bellamy KC, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice, signed, on behalf of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Convention of 2 July 2019 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters (2019 Judgments Convention). The 2019 Judgments Convention will enter into force for the United Kingdom only...
Cabo Verde accedes to the 2007 Child Support Convention
On 9 January 2024, the Republic of Cabo Verde deposited its instrument of accession to the Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance (2007 Child Support Convention). With the accession of Cabo Verde, 49 States and the European Union are bound by the 2007 Child Support Convention. It will enter into force for Cabo Verde on...
Apostille Convention enters into force for Canada
Today, 11 January 2024, the Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Apostille Convention) entered into force for Canada, following the deposit of its instrument of accession on 12 May 2023. The 1961 Apostille Convention currently has 126 Contracting Parties. More information on this Convention is available on the...
First official messages exchanged through iSupport
On 9 January 2024, several official messages under the EU 2009 Maintenance Regulation were exchanged between Germany and Sweden using iSupport’s e-CODEX system, the secure digital communication solution developed by the European Union. This marks the first time that digital communication has taken place between two States using iSupport. This is a promising development for the international...