INCADAT — New sponsors and upcoming improvements

The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce the expansion of its partnership with leading law firms from across the world in support of the HCCH’s International Child Abduction Database (INCADAT), the only global, free legal database on international child abduction law.

Offered as part of the HCCH’s post-Convention work, INCADAT facilitates the research of cases within the scope of application of the 1980 Child Abduction Convention by providing a wide range of cases, case summaries, and legal analyses. With summaries of cases provided in English, French, and Spanish, the database currently features decisions from over 75 jurisdictions, some of which are presented in their original language. The operation and maintenance of INCADAT, including hosting, uploading new cases, and technical updates, are made possible solely through voluntary contributions.

Last year, the Permanent Bureau partnered with 17 leading family law firms, an initiative made possible through the valuable cooperation of Carolina Marín Pedreño (Dawson Cornwell, UK) and Lisette Constance Dupré (Stewarts, UK), both Fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL).

In the 2025-2026 financial year, the generous support of these law firms enabled the Permanent Bureau to improve the operation of INCADAT through, among other developments, the engagement of three part-time consultants, responsible for preparing and uploading new cases in English, French, and Spanish, and the launch of INCADAT’s notification service. These developments have helped increase the comprehensiveness, accessibility, and visibility of INCADAT.

The Permanent Bureau is delighted to welcome the continued support as INCADAT Sponsors, for a further one-year term, of the following law firms:

  • Alexandre Boiché & Associés (France)
  • Dawson Cornwell LLP (England & Wales, United Kingdom)
  • Estudio Kuyumdjian & Williams (Argentina)
  • Gloria James-Civetta & Co (Singapore)
  • Green Kaminer Min & Rockmore LLP (New York, USA)
  • Harcourt Chambers (England & Wales, United Kingdom)
  • Horvitz y Compañía Abogados (Chile)
  • Kennedy Partners Lawyers (Australia)
  • Laura Dale & Associates (Texas, USA)
  • López Muelas Abogados (Spain)
  • Miller du Toit Cloete Inc (South Africa)
  • Sawal . Schüller . Hanke. (Germany)
  • Sky Lawyers (Russia)
  • SmeetsGijbels (Netherlands)
  • Studio Legale Internazionale Ghigliazza-Rugani (Italy)
  • ZHK Zöld-Horváth-Kölcsényi Law Firm (Hungary)

Furthermore, we are equally pleased to welcome 11 additional law firms joining as INCADAT Sponsors for the first time:

  • Adverlat Advocaten en Bemiddelaars (Belgium)
  • Bekirska Family Law Group (Bulgaria)
  • BRS Berger Recordon & de Saugy (Switzerland)
  • Dervla Browne S.C. (Ireland)
  • DLJM Oficina de Abogados (Dominican Republic)
  • Law Office of Karolina Zoi Andriakopoulou (Greece)
  • The Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katz, P.A. (Florida, USA)
  • Provinziano & Associates (California, USA)
  • Robert Thake Law Office (Malta)
  • SEPLAW | Sepúlveda y Díaz Noriega (Mexico)
  • Yalçın & Toygar Law Office (Türkiye)

In the 2026-2027 financial year, through the support of the INCADAT Sponsors, the Permanent Bureau will commission a comprehensive technical refurbishment of the database that will ensure its long-term stability and effectiveness. It will also continue to work with consultants towards expanding INCADAT’s case library and updating its Case Law Analysis section.

The Permanent Bureau takes this opportunity to acknowledge INCADAT’s returning and new sponsors for their generous and essential support.

To subscribe to INCADAT’s notification service, please visit the INCADAT website. More information on the 1980 Child Abduction Convention is available on the HCCH website.