2023 District of Columbia Code
Title 16 - Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]
Chapter 46 - Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement
Subchapter III - Enforcement
§ 16–4603.15. Role of Attorney General for the District of Columbia
(a) In a case arising under this chapter or involving the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the Attorney General for the District of Columbia may take any lawful action, including resort to a proceeding under this subchapter or any other available civil proceeding, to locate a child, obtain the return of a child, or enforce a child-custody determination if there is:
(1) An existing child-custody determination;
(2) A request to do so from a court in a pending child-custody proceeding;
(3) A reasonable belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or
(4) A reasonable belief that the child has been wrongfully removed or retained in violation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
(b) A member of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia acting under this section acts on behalf of the court and may not represent any party.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214; Mar. 31, 2009, D.C. Law 17-378, § 2(b)(1), 56 DCR 1572.)
Section ReferencesThis section is referenced in § 16-4603.16 and § 16-4603.17.
Effect of AmendmentsD.C. Law 17-378, in the section heading and subsecs. (a) and (b), substituted “Attorney General for the District of Columbia” for “Corporation Counsel”.
Editor's NotesUniform Law: This section is based upon § 315 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act).
