Call us: Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm, Sat - Sun 9am - 5pm
Call local rate 0330 056 3171
Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm | Sat - Sun 9am - 5pm
Call local rate 0330 056 3171
Mon - Fri 8:30am - 7pm | Sat - Sun 9am - 5pm

Court of Appeal sends international child residence case to Family Division for further thought

The Court of Appeal has sent a complex international residence case involving four children to the Family Division for further consideration.

In Re LC, four children with Spanish citizenship had lived with their parents in the UK throughout their lives. When the parents split up, the mother took the three boys and one girl back to Spain with her. A few months later, they returned o the UK to visit their father and then refused to go back to Spain. The mother applied for their return under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985.

The original judge ordered the children’s return to Spain, despite their wish to say in England.

The father appealed the ruling and the Court of Appeal ruled partially in his favour. The Lord Justices said the earlier judge had not given sufficient weigh to the older child’s objections to going back to Spain. She had spent only a brief period in the country and had expressed very clear objections to returning, which should have been given significant weight by the court.

The Court of Appeal reversed the earlier judge’s ruling in relation to the older daughter but they were then faced with the fact that allowing her to remain the UK could lead to the siblings beings separated, placing them in an “intolerable situation”. The case was therefore sent to Family Division for a future hearing.

The blog team at Stowe is a group of writers based across our family law offices who share their advice on the wellbeing and emotional aspects of divorce or separation from personal experience. As well as pieces from our family law solicitors, guest contributors also regularly contribute to share their knowledge.

Contact us

As the UK's largest family law firm we understand that every case is personal.

Comment(1)

  1. Luke says:

    “The original judge ordered the children’s return to Spain, despite their wish to say in England.”
    ============================

    Good grief, more unbelievable stupidity…

Leave a comment

Help & advice categories

Subscribe
?
Get
more
advice
Close

Newsletter Sign Up

Sign up for advice on divorce and relationships from our lawyers, divorce coaches and relationship experts.

What type of information are you looking for?


Privacy Policy
Close
Close