U.S. Embassy Ljubljana

Prešernova 31
1000 Ljubljana
Slovenia
Telephone: +(386) (1) 200-5500
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(386) (1) 200-5500
Email: LjubljanaACS@state.gov

Slovenia and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention) since April 1, 1995.

For information concerning travel to Slovenia, 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 Slovenia.

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 Slovenia. 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

The Slovenian Central Authority (SCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, located in the Directorate of Family. The SCA has an administrative role in processing Hague Abduction Convention applications. The SCA takes measures to locate the child and taking parent and may approach local authorities to arrange a meeting to attempt a voluntary return of the child, if appropriate. If the taking-parent does not agree to a return, the SCA files the petition with the family court in the jurisdiction where the defendant resides. 

The SCA can be reached at:

Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia, Directorate of Family

Kotnikova 28
1000 LJUBLJANA
Republic of Slovenia
Tel.: +386 1 369 75 00 or +386 1 369 77 00
Fax: +386 1 369 78 32 or +386 1 369 79 18
Email: gp.mddsz@gov.si
Website

To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Slovenia, the USCA encourages a parent or legal guardian to review the eligibility criteria and instructions for completing the Hague application form located at the Department of State’s website and contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the SCA.  All documents written in English must be translated into Slovenian. Please note, however, that certified translations are not necessary. The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to the SCA, and to subsequently monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes. 

There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the U.S. or Slovenian central authorities. Attorney fees, if necessary, are the responsibility of the applicant parent. 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, Slovenia. 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 Slovenia.  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.

Parents or legal guardians are not required to retain a private attorney in order to file a Hague Abduction Convention application with a court in Slovenia. The SCA will submit the Hague petition, and provide legal representation.

Parents or legal guardians have the option to hire a private attorney to represent them, and the SCA will provide a list of attorneys and information about free legal assistance options in Slovenia. A privately hired attorney should contact the SCA as soon as possible after the Hague Abduction Convention application has been filed with the court.  

The U.S. Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia, posts a 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.

The SCA promotes mediation in abduction cases and will attempt to initiate mediation in all Hague Abduction Convention cases. While courts cannot order mediation, judges can and do strongly encourage mediated resolutions and can stay hearings to permit parties the time to mediate.  

There are a number of organizations offering mediation services in Slovenia, including the Primus Institute, the Concordia Mediation Institute (Tel: +386-40-604-406), the Rakmo Institute, and the Association of Mediators of Slovenia/Društvo mediatorjev Slovenije.  A comprehensive list of mediators is available from the Ministry of Labor, Family, and Social Affairs.