The 1996 Hague Convention came into force in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2012 and is intended to improve the protection of children in international situations.

It provides for the recognition and enforcement of orders and other measures intended to protect a child or a child's property in all the Contracting States, and the co-operation between them necessary to achieve its purposes. The Convention covers a wide range of orders about children, including parental responsibility orders, the appointment of guardians and special guardians, residence, contact, specific issue and prohibited steps orders and injunctions, as well as care and supervision orders.

This book provides a comprehensive guide to the complexities of the 1996 Convention, including detailed coverage of the relationship with other international instruments such as the 1980 Hague Abduction Convention and the revised Brussels II Regulation. The Appendices contain all relevant source material including the full text of the Convention.