Mother's Refusal To Return Child From Brazil: What can I do to get my six year old son back to Israel from Brazil, if I am not married to his mother, although she is my girlfriend ? She flew out with him a couple of months ago, but she refuses to return him, despite promises.

Even though you are not married to your son's mother, as his father and natural guardian under Israeli law, you are entitled to bring Hague Convention proceedings for his return to Israel, if he has been wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained abroad ,both of which are forms of child abduction. Both Israel and Brazil are bound by the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. You can initiate proceedings by making an application to the Central Authority in Israel, the International Department of the State Attorney's Office, which will process it, so that a court case can be opened in Brazil for his return.