---
kind: "section"
citation: "22 U.S.C. § 9007"
title: "22"
title_heading: "Foreign Relations and Intercourse"
number: "9007"
heading: "Costs and fees"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/22/9007"
units:
  - "Chapter 97 — International Child Abduction Remedies"
---

# §9007. Costs and fees

- (a) **Administrative costs—** No department, agency, or instrumentality of the Federal Government or of any [State](/usc/22/9002.md?p=8) or local government may impose on an [applicant](/usc/22/9002.md?p=1) any fee in relation to the administrative processing of applications submitted under the [Convention](/usc/22/9002.md?p=2).
- (b) **Costs incurred in civil actions—**
  - (1) [Petitioners](/usc/22/9002.md?p=4) may be required to bear the costs of legal counsel or advisors, court costs incurred in connection with their petitions, and travel costs for the return of the child involved and any accompanying [persons](/usc/22/9002.md?p=5), except as provided in paragraphs [(2)](#b-2) and [(3)](#b-3).
  - (2) Subject to [paragraph (3)](#b-3), legal fees or court costs incurred in connection with an action brought under [section 9003 of this title](/usc/22/9003.md) shall be borne by the [petitioner](/usc/22/9002.md?p=4) unless they are covered by payments from Federal, [State](/usc/22/9002.md?p=8), or local legal assistance or other programs.
  - (3) Any court ordering the return of a child pursuant to an action brought under [section 9003 of this title](/usc/22/9003.md) shall order the [respondent](/usc/22/9002.md?p=6) to pay necessary expenses incurred by or on behalf of the [petitioner](/usc/22/9002.md?p=4), including court costs, legal fees, foster home or other care during the course of proceedings in the action, and transportation costs related to the return of the child, unless the [respondent](/usc/22/9002.md?p=6) establishes that such order would be clearly inappropriate.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 100–300, § 8, Apr. 29, 1988, 102 Stat. 440.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 11607 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.