Prohibited Steps Order

You can apply to the court if you think your partner is likely to try and take your children from you. This is called a "Prohibited Steps Order".

This Order will also help you if your partner is thinking of taking the children to live abroad.

If your partner has taken the children out of the country then you may be able to get the children back with the help of the court, but this depends on which country the children have been taken to.

Below is a list of countries with whom we have an agreement so that if children are taken to these countries unlawfully the authorities in that country can help to bring the children back.

Or, if you have a Residence Order and the children are taken to one of these countries, the authorities in that country should help to make sure the children are returned to you.

Argentina Australia Austria Belize Belgium Bosnia & Herzegovina Burkina Faso Canada (most states) Chile Colombia Croatia Cyprus (Southern) Denmark Ecuador

Finland France Germany Greece Honduras Hungary Ireland Italy Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Mauritius Mexico Monaco

Netherlands New Zealand Norway Panama Poland Portugal Romania Slovenia Spain Sweden St.Kitts & Nevis United States Yugoslavia Zimbabwe