The Hague Convention
Both the United States and Slovenia are parties to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the international treaty that governs the handling of these difficult cases. Countries that are party to this treaty designate a single central office to handle all communication and to serve as a place for advice and resources for the parents and families involved. For in-depth information on what the treaty says and how it helps parents, please see the State Department’s International Child Abduction Page.
My child has been abducted from the United States to Slovenia
If your child has been abducted from the United States to Slovenia, the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues is prepared to support you as you pursue recovery of your abducted child. You will be assigned a case officer who can assist with opening a case with your local law enforcement, searching for your child, understanding the legal process, etc. The Office of Children’s Issues can be reached toll free from the U.S./Canada: 1-888-407-4747 or from outside North America at 1-202-501-4444.
My child has been abducted from Slovenia to the United States
If your child has been abducted from Slovenia to the United States and you are physically here in Slovenia, please contact the Slovene Central Authority — the Family Directorate in the Ministry of Labor, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities. Call +386-1-369 7758 and ask for Mr. Tilen Zupan.
English-Speaking Attorneys in Slovenia
If you wish to retain the services of an attorney to advise and assist you, one resource is the Embassy’s list of English-speaking attorneys in Slovenia.
Hiring an Attorney in the United States
If you wish to retain the services of an attorney in the United States, the following websites, that provide attorney referral services, may be of use:
Preventing Child Abduction
If you fear that your United States citizen child might be taken abroad by the other parent without your consent, you can request that your child’s name be entered into the worldwide U.S. passport lookout system. Once that is done, if any U.S. passport office or Embassy receives an application for a passport for that child, you will be informed. More about the Children’s Passport Issuance Alert Program.
Other measures to prevent child abduction.
Other Resources
- Reunite International – helping families experiencing child abduction
- National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
