CHILD ABDUCTION PREVENTION

The following is an extract from Denmark's answers to a questionnaire submitted by the Hague Conference on Private International Law concerning the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction:

1. Civil legislative provisions
If one parent has sole custody of the child, this parent has the right to determine where the child should live, even if it is outside of Denmark. The parent, who does not have custody of the child, cannot take the child abroad without the consent of the holder of the custody.
When parents on the other hand have joint custody, and they disagree about who is to have sole custody, both parents shall consent to the child leaving the country.
When proceedings regarding custody have commenced, the court can dec ide that one parent should have temporary custody during the case. Such a temporary decision can also be made by the Ministry of Justice, Dep. of Private Law, if there is a risk that the parent, who has the custody of the child, is going to bring the child abroad.

2. Criminal legislative provisions
It follows from the Danish criminal code that a person, who wrongfully takes the child abroad, can be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to 4 years. Covered by this article are both situations where the non-abducting parent has sole custody and where the parents have joint custody and they disagree about who is to have sole custody.
In case of a report about one parent's attempt to wrongfully take the child abroad, the police can remove the child from the parent, who has tried to wrongfully bring the child abroad, and the child may then be placed with the other parent. If the parents have joint custody, it must be obvious to the police that the parents disagree about the custody, that there is no consent to the child leaving the country, and signs that the parent is leaving the country.

3. Court orders during proceedings
As stated under question 1 the court can decide that one parent should have temporary custody during the case. If such a decision is made, it is for instance possible for the holder of custody to decide that the other parent cannot pick up the child in day care institutions etc.

4. Court orders in emergency situations
Same as under question 3. Order of temporary custody can in some situations be made out-of-hours and also ex parte, if the judge finds it necessary in order to prevent an abduction.

5. Comments relating to relocation orders

6. Comments relating to legislative provisions, court orders or administrative measures
Decisions of temporary custody are often made by the court, when parents disagree about who is to have sole custody. They are, however, only made administratively if there is found to be an actual risk that one of the parents will take the child out of the country. In cases of joint custody the protection lies in the demand for consent to the child leaving the country.