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Costs of respondent’s counsel in Hague return proceedings

NH140004Supreme CourtSep 24, 2014

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Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

The Obergericht, II. Zivilkammer, held that in child return proceedings the respondent’s counsel fees are not covered by the cost-free regime of Art. 26 HCCH or Art. 14 BG-KKE. Because those provisions do not regulate compensation for the opposing party’s legal representative, the ordinary rules on legal aid under Art. 117 ZPO apply, including the possibility of later reimbursement under Art. 123 ZPO.

Omnilex headnote

Art. 26 HCCH; Art. 14 BG-KKE; compensation of respondent’s counsel in return proceedings: the absolute cost-free regime of Art. 26(1) HCCH applies only to the applicant. The Convention and the implementing statute do not regulate remuneration of the lawyer for the party opposing the return application. For that party, the general regime of legal aid under Art. 117 ZPO governs; accordingly, an order for reimbursement may later be sought under Art. 123 ZPO, irrespective of any reservation under Art. 26(3) HCCH (consid. 4).

Full text

Art. 14 BG-KKE, Art. 26 HKÜ, Kosten der Rechtsvertretung des Gesuchs- gegners. Anders als beim Gesuchsteller gelten hier die Regeln der unentgeltli- chen Prozessführung.

(aus den Erwägungen des Obergerichts:)

  1. Weder Art. 26 HKÜ noch Art. 14 BG-KKE enthalten eine Regelung betref- fend die Entschädigung für eine Rechtsvertreterin für diejenige Partei, gegen wel- che das Rückführungsbegehren gerichtet ist. Damit sind unabhängig von einem allfälligen Vorbehalt im Sinne von Art. 26 Abs. 3 HKÜ die Regeln über die unent- geltliche Rechtspflege nach Art. 117 ZPO einschlägig und es ist insbesondere auch eine Rückforderung der Entschädigung gestützt auf Art. 123 ZPO möglich (vgl. BGer 5A_716/2012 vom 3. Dezember 2012, E. 4.2, wonach die absolute Kostenfrei hei t des Rückführungs ve rfa hre ns nach Art. 26 Abs. 1 HKÜ nur für di e das Begehren stellende Partei gilt).

Obergericht, II. Zivilkammer Beschluss vom 24. September 2014 Geschäfts-Nr.: NH140004-O/Z09

Keywords

child returnlegal aidcostsrespondent counselHague Conventionreimbursement

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

Whether the legal costs of the respondent’s lawyer in a Hague Child Abduction return proceeding are governed by the rules on legal aid rather than the absolute cost-free regime of Art. 26 HCCH.

Extracted holding

Art. 26 HCCH and Art. 14 BG-KKE do not regulate compensation for counsel representing the party against whom the return application is directed; therefore Art. 117 ZPO applies, including the possibility of reimbursement under Art. 123 ZPO.

Extracted reasoning

The court held that the statutory provisions contain no specific rule on respondent’s counsel fees. Consequently, the general rules on legal aid govern this issue, regardless of any reservation under Art. 26(3) HCCH.

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