The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA). The report is located here.
Hague Abduction Convention
Mozambique is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between Mozambique and the United States concerning international parental child abduction.
Return
Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country. The government of Mozambique does not maintain information about custody, visitation, and family law on the Internet.
Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in Mozambique and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances.
The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children’s Issues provides assistance in cases of international parental child abduction. For U.S. citizen parents whose children have been wrongfully removed to or retained in countries that are not U.S. partners under the Hague Abduction Convention, the Office of Children’s Issues can provide information and resources about country-specific options for pursuing the return of or access to an abducted child. The Office of Children’s Issues may also coordinate with appropriate foreign and U.S. government authorities about the welfare of abducted U.S. citizen children. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance.
U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children’s Issues
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Website: childabduction.state.gov
Email: AfricaIPCA@state.gov
Parental child abduction is a crime in Mozambique.
Parents may wish to consult with an attorney in the United States and in the country to which the child has been removed or retained to learn more about how filing criminal charges may impact a custody case in the foreign court. Please see Possible Solutions – Pressing Criminal Charges for more information.
Visitation/Access
Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country. Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in Mozambique and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances.
The Office of Children’s Issues may be able to assist parents seeking access to children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States. Parents who are seeking access to children who were not wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States should contact the appropriate U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Mozambique for information and possible assistance.
Retaining an Attorney
Neither the Office of Children’s Issues nor consular officials at the U.S. Embassy or Consulates in Mozambique are authorized to provide legal advice.
The U.S. Embassy in Maputo, Mozambique posts list of attorneys, including those who specialize in family law.
This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the persons or firms included in this list. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.
Mediation
The institution responsible for mediating all children related issues is the Tribunal dos Menores (juvenile court). Mediation may be proposed as a remedy in custody disputes, although the court would not be able to provide much assistance in access cases for a left behind parent because parental abduction is not discussed as a crime in the Family Law.
