Because when a child crosses a border, families need a lawyer who already knows the way home.
Specialist Lawyers for International Parental Child Abduction
ICABEL brings together Belgian lawyers who specialise in international parental child abduction, cross-border custody disputes, and international contact and relocation cases — backed by a network that reaches from Belgium to LEPCA's sister associations across Europe, and worldwide.
Specialised legal advice
On wrongful removal or retention, return and relocation proceedings
Cross-border mediation
Helping parents reach agreements without prolonged litigation.
A trusted network
Connecting Belgian practice to sister associations across Europe, and specialists worldwide.
ICABEL (International Child Abduction Belgium) is an association of Belgian lawyers dedicated to international parental child abduction law, return proceedings, cross-border custody, contact and relocation disputes, and international family mediation. Our members represent parents and children in matters governed by the 1980 Hague Convention, the Brussels IIb Regulation, and the wider body of international and Belgian family law that applies once a family's life crosses more than one jurisdiction.
ICABEL was founded in 2026 by Karin Verbist, who chairs the association, out of the recognition that Belgium needed its own dedicated professional network in this highly specialised, and highly time-sensitive area of law. We take our place alongside sister organisations such as DIAL (the Netherlands), CALA (the United Kingdom), ICALI (Italy) and ASIME (Spain) within the wider LEPCA network of European parental child abduction lawyers. Because international child abduction cases just as often involve countries outside Europe, ICABEL lawyers also maintain working relationships with specialist colleagues worldwide, built case by case across the many countries that are party to the Hague Convention.
Chair
Karin Verbist — Adverlat Advocaten & Bemiddelaars, Antwerp
Our Objectives
- To bring together
Belgium's leading practitioners in international parental child abduction
and cross-border family law under a single, recognisable professional
body.
- To maintain and
continuously raise the quality and consistency of legal assistance
available to families affected by international child abduction in
Belgium.
- To act as a
collective voice for the profession towards Belgian and European
legislators, courts and policymakers.
- To strengthen
cooperation between Belgian practitioners and specialist colleagues
abroad, so cross-border cases are handled swiftly and with mutual
understanding of each legal system involved.
- To promote cross-border mediation as a way of resolving international parental conflicts in the best interests of the child.
What we do
International parental child abduction, in brief
International parental child abduction occurs when a parent removes a child from their country of habitual residence, or keeps a child in another country, without the consent of the other parent or of a court — even when that parent is acting out of love or fear rather than malice. It can also arise when a parent refuses to honour agreed contact arrangements, or when a parent who wants to relocate abroad with a child cannot obtain the other parent's consent.
These situations move fast, cross legal systems, and can permanently shape where — and with whom — a child grows up. ICABEL members are trained to act within the tight procedural deadlines that apply to Hague Convention and Brussels IIb cases, while keeping the child's interests at the centre of the case.
How ICABEL members can help
- Urgent advice when an abduction is feared or has just taken place
- Representation in return proceedings before the Belgian family courts
- Guidance through the Belgian Central Authority and international liaison procedures
- Cross-border mediation to reach agreement on return, custody, contact or relocation
- Advice on lawful relocation and international contact arrangements
- Continued legal support after a child's return, including follow-up custody and access arrangements
Legal framework
Cross-border child abduction cases sit at the intersection of several legal instruments, and ICABEL members keep practical, up-to-date knowledge of each.
The 1980 Hague Convention
On the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction — the multilateral treaty providing the framework for the prompt return of children wrongfully removed to, or retained in, another Contracting State, and for the protection of rights of access.
The Brussels IIb Regulation
(Regulation (EU) 2019/1111) — the EU instrument governing jurisdiction, recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial and parental-responsibility matters, and on international child abduction (recast) between Member States, which reinforces the Hague Convention's return mechanism within the EU.
Belgian procedural law
Including the summary proceedings used before the Belgian family courts in return applications.
The Belgian Central Authority
Part of the Federal Public Service Justice (FOD Justitie / SPF Justice), which liaises with foreign Central Authorities on individual cases under the Hague Convention.
ICABEL members also work alongside Belgian organisations such as Child Focus, which supports families of missing and abducted children, and stay in close contact with specialist colleagues abroad — through the LEPCA network in Europe, and worldwide through relationships built across the many countries that are party to the Hague Convention — because a Belgian case very rarely stays within Belgian borders alone.
For Parents & families
If you are worried about international child abduction — time matters. Early legal advice can make the difference between a swift return and a long, difficult procedure.
If you believe an abduction is about to happen
- Contact an ICABEL lawyer as soon as possible.
- Where relevant, ask about urgent measures such as a travel ban or surrender of the child's passport.
- Keep records of any communications, plans or threats that support your concerns.
If your child has already been taken, or is being kept abroad
- Contact an ICABEL lawyer immediately — Hague Convention and Brussels IIb procedures run on strict time limits.
- You can also contact the Belgian Central Authority or Child Focus for practical support alongside your legal case.
- An ICABEL lawyer can advise you on return proceedings, mediation, and staying in contact with your child while the case is ongoing.
If you are considering relocating abroad with your child, or facing a request to let the other parent do so, ICABEL members can advise you on your options and help you reach a workable, lawful arrangement — through agreement wherever possible, through the courts where necessary.
Cross-border mediation
Not every cross-border family conflict needs to be resolved in court. Cross-border mediation gives parents the chance to reach their own agreement on custody, contact or relocation — often faster, with less conflict, and with a better long-term outcome for the child than a purely adversarial procedure.
Several ICABEL members are trained cross-border family mediators. For parents who want to explore this route, we point to the specialised mediator network at crossbordermediator.eu, where certified mediators experienced in international family conflicts — including cases involving a feared or actual child abduction — can be found by country, language and specialisation.
Mediation is not the right path for every case. An ICABEL lawyer can help you judge, together with you, whether it is a realistic option.
How it typically works
- A certified mediator — often two co-mediators, reflecting both parents' nationalities and, where relevant, combining legal and psychological expertise — guides the conversation between parents.
- Sessions can take place online, or intensively over a few days if one parent travels to the other's country.
- Mediation can run alongside a legal procedure; parents don't need to agree in advance that it will succeed in order to try it.
- Once parents reach an agreement, an ICABEL lawyer can help make it legally binding and recognised in both countries involved.
Membership
Our members
Every ICABEL member has demonstrated genuine experience in this field and commits to ongoing training. Families can use our member directory to find a lawyer suited to their language, region, or the specific countries involved in their case.
Become a member
ICABEL welcomes Belgian lawyers — and mediators active in cross-border family cases — who already work in international parental child abduction law. To apply, candidates are asked to show relevant experience in the field, a commitment to ongoing training, and good standing with the relevant Belgian Bar (or, for mediators, the appropriate recognised mediation body).
Membership offers
- Access to specialised training and intervision with fellow practitioners
- A place within the LEPCA network of European child abduction specialists, and connections that reach well beyond Europe
- Visibility to families searching for a specialist lawyer in this field
- A collective voice in discussions on law reform and practice with Belgian courts and authorities
- Ongoing exchange of experience on complex, multi-jurisdictional cases
Training, events & resources
Training & events
ICABEL organises regular training sessions, seminars and webinars for its members, and periodically opens selected events to the wider legal community. Topics range from practical guidance on Hague Convention and Brussels IIb procedure, to comparative sessions on the legal systems most often involved in Belgian cases, to specialist training in cross-border family mediation.
We also take part in international conferences and exchanges organised through the LEPCA network, giving our members direct contact with specialist colleagues from across Europe — and, through our members' own casework, with practitioners worldwide.
News & resources
This section brings together ICABEL news, articles from our members, and practical resources on international parental child abduction law.
Articles & insights — commentary from ICABEL members on recent case law and developments in Belgian and European family law
Legislation — key texts, including the 1980 Hague Convention and the Brussels IIb Regulation
Useful links — the Belgian Central Authority, Child Focus, LEPCA, crossbordermediator.eu, and our sister associations abroad
Upcoming event
23.10.2026 — Rome
Conference International Child Abduction, Comparing national experiences and new trends
- Comparing national experiences: data, identifying factors and new trends in the field of international child abduction
- International, supranational, and domestic case law: grounds for refusing return and the impact of domestic and gender-based violence
- ADR tools and international family mediation models compared
- Comparing national experiences on relocation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is international parental child abduction?
It happens when a parent removes a child from their country of habitual residence, or keeps a child abroad, without the consent of the other parent or a competent court.
My child's other parent wants to move abroad with our child — is that abduction?
Not automatically. If you agree, or a court authorises the move, it's a lawful relocation. Difficulties arise when a parent moves, or plans to move, without the required consent — this is where early legal advice matters.
How quickly do I need to act?
Very quickly. Hague Convention and Brussels IIb return procedures are designed to move fast, and delay can affect the outcome. Contact an ICABEL lawyer as soon as you have concerns.
Can these cases be resolved without going to court?
Yes. Cross-border mediation lets parents agree on custody, contact or relocation, sometimes alongside a court procedure. Several ICABEL members are trained cross-border mediators, and you can find a certified mediator via our Mediation page or crossbordermediator.eu.
Does ICABEL represent parents directly, or only refer cases to members?
ICABEL is a professional association; individual members act as your lawyer or mediator. Use our member directory to contact a practitioner directly.
Is Belgium party to the Hague Convention?
Yes. Belgium is a Contracting State to the 1980 Hague Convention and, as an EU Member State, also applies the Brussels IIb Regulation in cases involving other EU countries.
For questions about ICABEL, membership, training, or to be put in touch with a member lawyer, please get in touch.
If you are facing an urgent situation involving a child at risk of international abduction, contact an ICABEL member lawyer directly, or reach the Belgian Central Authority or Child Focus (116 000) for immediate support.