International Child Abduction Respondents Scheme Fact Sheet

This fact sheet provides information on the International Child Abduction Respondents Scheme (ICARS).

ICARS provides legal financial assistance for parents responding to an 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction return application made in an Australian court.

Funding may cover the reasonable costs of legal practitioners for proceedings to:

• act as your legal representative
• attend mediation with you
• provide you with legal advice.

You may be eligible for ICARS if you are:

1. defending or proposing to defend an application filed in an Australian court under the Family Law (Child Abduction Convention)
   Regulations 1986 (the Regulations) seeking a return order for a child (or children)
2. appealing or proposing to appeal a return order made by an Australian court under the Regulations, or
3. responding to or proposing to respond to an appeal against a non-return decision made by an Australian court under the Regulations.