Avoiding Conflicting Orders Across Borders

In international child support cases between countries that are members of the 2007 Hague Child Support Convention, “Central Authorities” are your teammates. They receive applications, check paperwork, coordinate service, and help enforce or modify orders abroad. Success depends on giving them exactly what they need and communicating clearly across time zones.

Know their role. A Central Authority isn’t your personal lawyer; it’s a government office that forwards and facilitates. It screens your application for completeness, requests missing items, and sends the case to the competent local court or enforcement body. It may also relay status updates and ask you for clarifications within set deadlines. Treat them like a high‑stakes project manager: concise inputs, reliable follow‑through.

Choose the right application. The Convention provides different pathways: recognition and enforcement of an existing order; establishment of a new order; modification of an existing order; and locating the debtor or assets. Use your domestic agency to pick the correct form set. Submitting the wrong packet wastes months because foreign courts will not repurpose your documents for a different request.

Make the file irresistible. Strong files have (1) certified copies of orders and modifications, (2) a sworn arrears statement “as of” a date with interest rules, (3) clear identifying data (full names, date of birth, national IDs, addresses, employers), (4) evidence of service from the original case, (5) translations by certified translators, and (6) a short plain‑language cover memo explaining the request and the relief you seek. If you have leads on assets or employers in the foreign country, include them to jump‑start enforcement.

Mind the translations. Courts abroad act faster when they can read your documents. Translate only what’s required, but do it well—orders, key exhibits, and summaries. Keep a glossary of names and terms so translations use consistent spellings and abbreviations. Mismatched names cause confusion and delays in posting payments.

Communications rhythm. Expect long gaps followed by short windows to respond. Set calendar reminders to request status at 60–90 day intervals. When you receive a question, answer precisely and attach documents in the exact format requested. If a hearing is scheduled, confirm whether you must appear (often not) and whether testimony by declaration or video is allowed.

Coordination at home. Keep your domestic order and ledger updated. If a modification happens domestically while the foreign case is pending, immediately provide the new order and arrears recalculation to the Central Authority. Aligning numbers avoids rejected payments or misapplied credits abroad.

Payments and routing. Ask the Central Authority how funds will flow—directly to you, through a foreign agency, or back to your state’s SDU. Provide account information or SDU case numbers in the format they need. Then monitor for postings and keep receipts; cross‑border transfers sometimes post in batches.

When things stall. If months pass without movement, politely escalate: request a supervisor review, ask whether local counsel is advisable, and confirm that your forms still match current requirements. In some countries, hiring local counsel to appear at a single recognition hearing can unlock the case. Share counsel’s filings with the Central Authority so they can coordinate, not duplicate.

Bottom line. Central Authorities make international enforcement possible, but they’re only as fast as the files they receive. Package your case cleanly, translate well, answer quickly, and keep both sides updated so money can cross borders without drama.

Disclaimer: Educational information only; not legal advice. Procedures vary by country and change over time. Consult your child support agency and qualified foreign counsel.