Acting as requested Central Authority, the Portuguese Central Authority intervenes, mainly, as follows:
- Upon request of the holder of custody rights, or on request of any person, institution or other body claiming that rights of custody have been restricted or breached, through a foreign Central Authority (Requesting Central Authority);
- Upon request of the holder of access rights, or on request of any person, institution or other body claiming that rights of access have been restricted or breached, through a foreign Central Authority (Requesting Central Authority);
- Upon request of the foreign central authority (requesting Central Authority) under the scope of the promotion and protection of children and young people, in accordance with judicial decisions or foreign administrative entities.
The intervention of the Portuguese Central Authority is reflected, mainly, on the technical analysis of the following requests:
- Request for the return of a child who has been displaced to Portugal or who is being held in Portugal without the consent or knowledge of the holder (s) of the right of custody;
- Request for taking measures for the enforcement or reorganization of access rights regarding a childliving in Portugal;
- Request to take the necessary protective measures, regarding a child living in Portugal.
If you live abroad and you have legal basis to submit a request for the return of a child wrongfully displaced or retained in Portugal, or a request to protect your access rights over a child residing in Portugal, you must submit an application to initiate proceedings in the Central Authority of the State where you reside.
Regarding the requests to take necessary protective measures towards a child living in Portugal, submitted by other Central Authorities under the promotion and protection of children and young people, these requests are transmitted by the Portuguese Central Authority to the Portuguese authorities responsible for the promotion and protection of children and young people.
If legal aid is needed, the holder (s) of custody / access rights may require the benefit of legal aid. The holder should contact the competent authorities of the State of his/her residence.