Parents who separate or get divorced often cannot reach an agreement who will exercise the parental rights and obligations upon the children. Situations like this will have to be decided by a court with a judgment. The same applies to cases where parents are staying in another country and want custody to be returned to them.
The guiding principle for any decisions to be made is the best interest of the child. To enable the court to make a decision, information is needed on the living circumstances of the family members, respectively the child in the other country.
For instance:
- A Greek man is married to a Bulgarian woman. They have two children. The whole family lives in Greece. Later on the spouses separate. The mother comes back to Bulgaria with the children. The husband commences divorce proceedings in Greece and he applies for the exercise of parental rights and obligations upon the children.
- Maria is born in Germany and she is a child of a Bulgarian woman and a German man, who has not yet recognized her. The child is placed in a foster family in Germany with the intention to be adopted as the mother has informed the German Social Services that she is not able to take care of her. Meanwhile, the mother comes back to Bulgaria and argues that she wants her child back as she can look after Maria.
How International Social Service - Bulgaria can help
- By providing assistance to the parents to reach an agreement with respect to the exercise of parental rights and obligations.
- By providing information about the social systems and the legislation of the different countries.
- By providing social reports which serve as the basis for the decision-making of the courts.