U.S. Moving Toward Ratification of the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support
The U.S. House on June 5, 2012 advanced toward the country’s ratification of the Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support, as reported by the Congressional Research Service. The proposed treaty, which is formally titled the Hague Convention of 23 November 2007 on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance calls for signatories (signing countries) to cooperate in enforcing each other’s child support and alimony collections. Specifically, the Convention would provide for the establishment of applications and procedures to enforce such support in other signatory countries.
This is a positive step toward what should be seen as a universal goal – the enforcement of order for child support and alimony/family support worldwide, and preventing individuals from shirking their obligations by taking refuge in other countries. Sadly, per the Hague Convention, only Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Norway have actually ratified the treaty, while six other members (including the U.S.) have signed the treaty but have yet to ratify. This is in stark contrast to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of Child Abduction, which has been ratified by over 90 countries as of this year.
