MKFL: International Family Law

04/14/2026

As required by law, each year, the U.S. Department of State publishes an annual report that outlines cases where a child was reported as abducted from the USA to another country. Learn more here: https://www.mkfamily.law/blog/dos-update-compliance-2026

The U.S. Department of State issues a yearly “compliance” report, as mandated by Congress, that outlines outstanding child abduction cases from the United States to other countries and explores some of the underlying reasons behind why certain cases remain unresolved .  The report includes

01/06/2026

Melissa is honored to be named as the new President of the D.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She begins serving her 2-year term this month, and will continue the good work of the Immediate Past President, Natalia Wilson.

07/09/2025

Sign up for email alerts from the firm's Family Law Across Borders blog. The blog summarizes the most salient international family law updates in the USA.

International Family Law Updates with MKFL, monitoring the current IFL updates in the United States and offering these updates to lawyers and their clients.

05/01/2025

The U.S. Department of State has released its annual compliance report. Read the report here:

The 2025 U.S. Department of State Compliance Report provides insight into underlying reasons why certain children are difficult to repatriate from other countries.

03/13/2025

Melissa is honored to sit on a panel of distinguished lawyers from France, the UK, and the USA at a sold-out international family law conference in France next week. Melissa will share her views on mediating international family law cases where there are allegations of abuse, and the impact on issues related to children and finances.

Melissa will serve as a co-panelist at a sold out international family law conference in France where she will share her views on serving as an international family mediator in cases where there are allegations of abuse.

02/28/2025

Millions of Americans live abroad, and interest in moving has spiked. MKFL: International Family Law has created a checklist of some of the top things that should consider before their move.

02/22/2025

would like to wish all those sitting for the February 2025 bar examination this coming week the very best. This is the culmination of so much work and dedication. You got this!📚📈🎉

02/19/2025

Melissa was recommended as a leading Family Lawyer in Washington, D.C. by the Doyles Guide, and her firm was recommended as a top family law firm in D.C. for 2025. Learn more: https://doylesguide.com/category/usa/washington-dc/

02/04/2025

You can watch last week's Year-in-Review webinar, sharing the top international family law updates from the US and UK here.

The New York State Bar sponsored this free webinar on January 28, 2025 where Melissa Kucinski and James Netto share the top international family law updates ...

01/21/2025

There is still time to register for this FREE webinar with the top international family law updates from the past year in the US and UK. Register here: https://nysba.org/events/the-international-family-law-year-in-review/

01/05/2025

The U.S. District Court for the D. of Montana ordered a minor child returned to Ukraine under the Convention. While the court concluded that a return to Odesa would expose the child to a grave risk of harm under Article 13(b), it also concluded that the harm could be ameliorated (Golan v. Saada) by returning the child to western Ukraine. Learn more, and subscribe to the Family Law Across Borders blog:

A Montana District Court ordered a minor child returned to western Ukraine under the Hague Abduction Convention, finding that return to Odesa would expose the child to a grave risk of harm, but that harm is ameliorated by a return to a different city.