The Hague Convention (Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction)
Lawyer Related Information
The information on this page is intended for parties involved in an “Application for Assistance in Child’s Return to Foreign State” or an “Application for Assistance in Contact with Child in Japan”. Both applications pertain to a child located in Japan.
1. Information on Lawyer Referral Service
To obtain a referral to a lawyer qualified to handle Hague Convention cases, you may contact the Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA). Referral applications must be submitted through the Japanese Central Authority (Hague Convention Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs). For more details, please visit the JFBA website.
- [Japan Federation of Bar Associations (JFBA)]
Please note that, in order for a lawyer to communicate with the Japanese Central Authority on your behalf, the lawyer needs to submit a Power of Attorney to the Japanese Central Authority.
- Power of Attorney [Sample: Japanese (PDF)
/ English (PDF) ]
2. Other Lawyer Referral Services for Hague Convention Cases
The following bar associations also provide lawyer referral services. However, these associations do not guarantee that they can find a lawyer for you. Please contact the relevant help desk for further details.
- [Three Tokyo Local Bar Associations Hague Convention Help Desk]
- Tokyo’s three bar associations (Tokyo Bar Association, Dai-ichi Tokyo Bar Association, and Daini Tokyo Bar Association) have jointly established a help desk for the purpose of introducing Tokyo-based lawyers who are qualified to handle Hague Convention cases.
- [Osaka Bar Association]
- TEL: (+81) 06-6364-1248 (Japanese language only)
- [Okinawa Bar Association]
- TEL: (+81) 098-865-3737 (Japanese language only)
3. Civil Legal Aid System
Legal aid may be available to petitioners who file a petition with a Japanese family court for the return of, or contact with, a child under the Hague Convention. Japan's civil legal aid system provides interest-free advances to cover fees for lawyers, interpreters, translation, and other similar services; repayments are generally made in installments. Applicants must meet certain eligibility criteria to qualify for legal aid, including incomes below specified thresholds.
- [Japan Legal Support Center (JLSC / ”Houterasu”)]
- TEL: Houterasu Support Dial 0570-078374
(This phone number cannot be used for calls from overseas.)