Foreign policy and sanctions

Executive Order 13752: Relating to the Implementation of the Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance

President: Barack Obama

Assigned federal responsibilities for cross-border child-support cases under the Hague Convention.

Status: In effect.

Is Executive Order 13752 still in effect? Yes. Active delegation supporting US operation of the 2007 Hague Child Support Convention.

What does Executive Order 13752 do?

EO 13752 implemented the United States’ obligations under the 2007 Hague Child Support Convention after ratification. It designated the Health and Human Services Secretary to perform presidential functions, including central-authority work, and assigned related State Department functions. The Convention entered into force for the United States on January 1, 2017 and remains part of federal and state interstate child-support practice.

Administration position: The order facilitates recognition and enforcement across participating countries; it does not decide the amount or validity of an individual support order.
SignedDecember 8, 2016
Convention2007 Hague Child Support Convention
US central authorityHHS Office of Child Support Services

Before and after

Before the order

International recovery depended on bilateral and reciprocal arrangements without the Convention’s common process.

After the order

US central and state authorities used standardized applications and recognition rules with Convention partners.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
HHSServe as central authority and coordinate statesContinuing
State DepartmentHandle treaty and diplomatic functionsContinuing
State child-support agenciesProcess incoming and outgoing casesContinuing

What happened next

EO 13752 assigned implementation functions.

The Convention entered into force for the United States.