U.S. Embassy Kingston

142 Old Hope Road
Kingston 6
Jamaica, West Indies
Telephone: +(876) 702-6000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(876) 702-6000
Fax: +(876) 702-6018
KingstonACS@state.gov

Consulates

Physical Address:

U.S. Consular Agency - Cayman Islands
202B Smith Road Center
150 Smith Road
George Town, Cyman Islands
Telephone: +(345) 945-8173
Fax: +(345) 945-8192
CaymanACS@state.gov

Mailing Address:

U.S. Consular Agency
P.O. Box 12204
George Town, Grand Cayman
Cayman Islands. BWI
KY1-1010
Telephone: +(345) 945-8173
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica: +(876) 702-6000

There is a part-time Consular Agent in the Cayman Islands. For routine assistance please contact the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica.

The Cayman Islands are British Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom extended the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) to the Cayman Islands on May 8, 1998.  The Cayman Islands and the United States have been treaty partners under the Hague Abduction Convention since August 1, 1998.

For information concerning travel to the Cayman Islands, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for the Cayman Islands.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here. 

The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention.  In this capacity, the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children’s Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including the Cayman Islands.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority.

Contact information:

United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
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: travel.state.gov

The Cayman Islands Central Authority (CICA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Attorney General's Office. The CICA performs the duties given to central authorities under the Hague Abduction Convention, including processing Hague Abduction Convention applications for return of and access to children. They can be reached at:

Cayman Islands Central Authority
Solicitor General’s Office
Portfolio of Legal Affairs
4th Floor, Government Administration Building
133 Elgin Avenue, George Town
P.O. Box 136 Grand Cayman, KY1-9000
Cayman Islands
Email: ciabduction@gov.ky

Contact: Claire Allen
Telephone: (345) 946-0022
Email: Claire.Allen@gov.ky

Contact: Reshma Sharma QC
Telephone: (345) 946-0022
Email: Reshma.sharma@gov.ky

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in the Cayman Islands, the left behind parent may submit a Hague application to the Cayman Islands Central Authority (CICA), either directly or through the U.S. Central Authority (USCA).  The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to the CICA, and to subsequently monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes. 

There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the United States or Cayman Islands central authorities.  Attorney fees, if necessary, are the sole responsibility of the person hiring the attorney.  Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to or wrongfully retained in the Cayman Islands.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand whether the Convention is an available civil remedy and can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

A person may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in the Cayman Islands.  The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country.  The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Each applicant will be required to obtain a private attorney, at his or her own expense, to follow up on the case, advocate before the court, and provide legal advice based on the individual circumstances. The Cayman Islands Central Authority (CICA) will provide assistance to applicants in sourcing attorneys. If financial assistance is needed, the attorney will make an application for public funding to meet the applicant’s legal costs.  The attorney will then file the case with the Grand Court. A privately-hired attorney should contact the CICA as soon as possible after the Hague Abduction Convention application has been filed with the court.

The U.S. Embassy in Kingston, Jamaica, maintains a list of attorneys practicing in the Cayman Islands, including those who specialize in family law, posted here.

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 following persons or firms.  Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

Currently, the Cayman Islands Central Authority (CICA) does not offer mediation services. While the CICA promotes and encourages mediation between the parties with a view to a voluntary resolution, all such mediation services are conducted privately at the expense of the parties involved.