If You Remain in Contact with the Other Parent and Know They Are in Poland

If you remain in contact with the other parent and know that they are in Poland, contact the central authority in the country where you reside. Be aware that it may be necessary to complete a power of attorney authorising the central authority to act on your behalf or to designate a representative to represent you.

You will then need to complete a form containing personal information and provide any other useful details or data. The central authority in your country will forward your file to the Polish central authority and ask it to search for or confirm the presence of the child in order to avoid exposing the child to danger.

The central authorities will seek an amicable resolution, including mediation where appropriate, with the assistance of a lawyer or mediator specialising in international family law.

NB: In Canada, each provincial and territorial government also has its own central authority, in addition to the federal authority.

The purpose of this Convention is:

(a) to secure the prompt return of children wrongfully removed or retained in any signatory state;

(b) to effectively enforce in the other signatory states the rights of custody and visitation existing in a state that is signatory to the Convention.

Article 1 of the Hague Convention of 25 October 1980