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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Georgia International Parental Child Abduction Information

International Parental Child Abduction

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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Georgia International Parental Child Abduction Information

Georgia

Georgia
Georgia
Exercise normal precautions in Georgia. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.

Exercise normal precautions in Georgia. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. 

Do Not Travel To:

  • The Russian-occupied Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia due to risk of crime, civil unrest, and landmines.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Georgia.

If you decide to travel to Georgia:

South Ossetia and Abkhazia – Do Not Travel

Russian troops and border guards occupy both South Ossetia and Abkhazia. The precise locations of administrative boundary lines are difficult to identify. Entering the occupied territories will likely result in your arrest, imprisonment, and/or a fine. Violent attacks and criminal incidents occur in the region. Landmines pose a danger to travelers near the boundary lines of both territories.

The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens traveling in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling there.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

 

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
Learn why the Hague Abduction Convention Matters.

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US
ALL / ALL /

U.S. Embassy Tbilisi

29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue
Didi Dighomi
Tbilisi, Georgia, 0131
Telephone: +(995)(32) 227-7724 (M-F 8:30-5:30)
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(995)(32) 227-7000
Website: https://ge.usembassy.gov/
Email: 

For information concerning travel to Georgia, 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 Georgia.

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 Georgia. 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
Office of Children’s Issues
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20520
Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Fax: 202-485-6221
Website

The Georgian Central Authority (GCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Ministry of Justice, International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department.  The GCA reviews Hague applications for completion, initiates location efforts for missing children, and if appropriate, approaches taking parties about whether or not abduction situations may be resolved voluntarily.  The GCA can be reached at:

Ministry of Justice of Georgia
International Relations and Legal Cooperation Department
24a Gorgasali St.
0144 Tbilisi, Georgia
Tel.: (+995 32) 2 40 57 69
Fax: (+995 32) 2 40 52 04
E-mail: Intlawdep@justice.gov.ge
Website: https://justice.gov.ge/?lang=2

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Georgia, the USCA encourages parents to review the eligibility criteria and instructions for completing the Hague application form located at the Department of State website and contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority. The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to Georgia, 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 Georgian central authorities. 

 

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, Georgia. 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 Georgia. 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.

Left-behind parents are not required to retain an attorney in Georgia, but they may want to consider doing so.

Neither the Office of Children’s Issues nor consular officials at the U.S. Embassy in Georgia are authorized to provide legal advice.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, posts a list of attorneys, including those who specialize in family law.

Mediation is available in Georgia. Please contact the US or Georgian central authorities for more information.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: October 7, 2024

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Tbilisi
29 Georgian-American Friendship Avenue
Didi Dighomi
Tbilisi, Georgia, 0131
Telephone
+(995)(32) 227-7724 (M-F from 8:30-5:30)
Emergency
+(995)(32) 227-7000
Fax
No Fax
Email
AskConsulTbilisi@state.gov
Website
https://ge.usembassy.gov/

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