This Private International Law site, maintained by the Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/PIL) at the U.S. Department of State, has as its purpose to provide a convenient location to find treaties in force for the United States, other international instruments, and information on current negotiations and projects covering private international law of such areas as trade and commerce, finance and banking, trusts and estates, family and children matters, and international judicial assistance. The database is organized into four general areas: Trade and Busines