When to Hire International Counsel

Most international cases run through Central Authorities — but some hit a wall that only a locally licensed lawyer can get past.

The triggers

• The other parent lives in a non-Hague country with no automatic recognition path.
• A Hague case stalls awaiting a local recognition hearing or unique procedural steps.
• You need asset remedies — bank levies or property liens — that require local filings.
• Service has failed repeatedly and the court wants proof under local rules.
• You need to appear before the foreign court to seek recognition before a conflicting order emerges.

Hiring well

Foreign counsel can file enforcement petitions, attend hearings, obtain wage-withholding, validate translations, and navigate data-protection limits on garnishment. Request Central Authority referrals, prioritize a bilingual attorney with family-enforcement experience, verify bar registration, and set a narrow scope with flat fees for predictable steps and monthly status reports. Copy the Central Authority on key filings to keep the government channel open.

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