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The Permanent Bureau is pleased to announce several notable developments with regard to 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 55 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.

Thanks to the cooperation of Carolina Marín Pedreño (Dawson Cornwell, UK), and Lisette Constance Dupré (Stewarts, UK), both Fellows of the International Academy of Family Lawyers (IAFL), the Permanent Bureau will be partnering with a number of leading family law firms from various regions of the world to support and enhance the operation of INCADAT in coming years. For the 2025-2026 financial year, their voluntary contributions will amount to a total of € 51,000.

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

• Alexandre Boiché & Associés (France)
• Brick, Jones, McBrien & Hickey LLP (Massachusetts, USA)
• 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)

The first of the enhancements to the operation of INCADAT, partially funded through a voluntary contribution from Germany, is the launch of INCADAT’s new notification service. This feature enables users to receive email alerts when new cases are uploaded, helping them stay up-to-date on recent case law developments, while also augmenting user engagement and retention. 

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.