An unmarried father has no rights as regards a child until an application is made, but a mother taking child abroad whilst a court application was continuing could be restrained as an act of child abduction through the court’s own parental rights and duties. Judges: Ward LJ Citations: Times 09-Apr-1998, Gazette 13-May-1998, [1999] Fam 1 … Continue reading In Re W (Minors) (Child Abduction: Unmarried Father); In Re B (A Minor) (Child Abduction: Unmarried Father): FD 9 Apr 1998
Rights of custody are to be distinguished from mere rights of access. Citations: [1999] EWCA Civ 1013, [1999] 2 FLR 192 Statutes: Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 5(a), Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Cited – In re D (A Child), (Abduction: Rights … Continue reading V-B (Minors) (Abduction: Custody Rights): CA 17 Mar 1999
Judges: Hickinbottom, Moylan, Peter Jackson LJJ Citations: [2020] EWCA Civ 1185, [2020] WLR(D) 505 Links: Bailii, WLRD Statutes: Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Cited by: Appeal from – G v G SC 19-Mar-2021 This appeal concerns the relationship of the 1980 Hague Convention (the ‘1980 HC’) to asylum law. The … Continue reading Re G (A Child : Child Abduction): CA 15 Sep 2020
The mother had unlawfully brought her son here from Romania, and now appealed an order for his return. Held: The appeal was dismissed. Citations: [2006] EWCA Civ 830 Links: Bailii Statutes: Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985, Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 Jurisdiction: England and Wales Citing: Appeal from … Continue reading In re D (A Child): CA 25 May 2006
The parents, both of Nigerian origin had started a family in Ireland. The mother came to England seeking asylum, going first to Salford and then to London. The father sought their return under the 1985 Act. The court had made interim orders for the authority to support the children and mother pending the outcome of … Continue reading In re A (Children) (Abduction: Interim Powers); EA v GA: CA 27 May 2010
The House addressed the question whether wrongful removal and wrongful retention were mutually exclusive concepts. The issue arose in the context of the commencement date for the 1985 Act as between the two States involved. Held: For the purposes of the Abduction Convention the two concepts were mutually exclusive, and that because article 12 required … Continue reading In Re H (Minors) (Abduction: Custody Rights): HL 1991
An illegitimate child’s habitual country of residence is determined at the date of death of his mother when he was to be removed following the death. Where the mother of an illegitimate child who is resident in England dies and the grandmother takes the child to Ireland, the child remains resident in England. Judges: Lord … Continue reading In Re S (A Minor) (Abduction: European Convention): HL 30 Jul 1997
The father sought the return of his daughter to Romania, saying she had been taken to the UK in breach of a court order. Held: The relevant court order pre-dated the accession of Romania to the Convention. Enforceability flowed from eth date of the original order, and not from a later issue of a notice … Continue reading In re D (A Child), (Abduction: Rights of Custody) (no 2); AD v CD v AD: CA 12 Dec 2007
The child had been born to parents who married and later divorced in Romania. The mother brought him to England without the father’s consent, and now appealed an order for his return. Held: The mother’s appeal succeeded. The Convention required an order to be made for the return of a child only where the parent … Continue reading In re D (A Child), (Abduction: Rights of Custody): HL 16 Nov 2006
Rights of access can in themselves amount to ‘rights of custody’ for the Convention. Dyson LJ divided the question of whether the father had rights of custody into two. The first, which he called ‘the domestic law question’, was what rights the father had in national law. The second, which he called ‘the Convention question’, … Continue reading Hunter v Murrow (Abduction: Rights of Custody): CA 28 Jul 2005
It was possible for the court itself to have sufficient rights of custody under the Convention to allow a party to apply on the basis that an abduction had interfered with those rights of custody. A father had begun proceedings but did not himself have rights awarded, but he could apply on the basis that … Continue reading In Re H (A Child) (Abduction: Rights of Custody): HL 3 Feb 2000
A summary order for the return of an abducted child is not appropriate where there had been some considerable and unexplained delay in the making of the application for the return of the child. Citations: Times 20-Nov-1997, Gazette 12-Nov-1997 Statutes: Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980, Child Abduction and Custody … Continue reading In Re S (A Minor) (Child Abduction: Delay): FD 12 Nov 1997
The two girls were with their mother in Scotland. The father, living in France, sought their return to France: Held: The court granted the father’s application. The Lord Ordinary: ‘After considering all the relevant evidence I am satisfied that the children had not immediately before 20 November 2013 lost their habitual residence in France. They … Continue reading In Re AR (An Order Under The Child Abduction And Custody Act 1985): SCS 17 Jun 2014
Once a court has become involved in the issues surrounding the ‘right of custody’ of a child as set down in the convention, an English court would not attempt to substitute its own jurisdiction. The child was of unmarried parents in Ireland. The father applied to the court there for contact, and the mother left … Continue reading In Re H (A Child) (Abduction: Rights of Custody): CA 16 Nov 1999
Hearings involving the temporary removal of a child to a non-Convention country needed full preparation, and must be heard by a Family Division judge. The magnitude of the risks and the irretrievable consequences required this. Care should be taken to implement the fullest safeguards, and if necessary expert evidence on the practicality of enforcing such … Continue reading In Re K (A Minor) (Removal From Jurisdiction: Practice): CA 2 Sep 1999
Acquisition of Habitual Residence Habitual residence can in principle be lost and another habitual residence acquired on the same day. Held: The provisions giving the courts of a member state jurisdiction also apply where there is an alternative jurisdiction in a non-member state such as the United States. The Regulation also deals with how child … Continue reading A v A and another (Children) (Children: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening): SC 9 Sep 2013
Two children were born in Norway to a British mother (M) and Norwegian father (F). Having lived in Norway, M brought them to England to stay, but without F’s knowledge or consent. M replied to his application for their return that the children would be at risk if returned, alleging psychological abuse by F. She … Continue reading Re E (Children) (Abduction: Custody Appeal): SC 10 Jun 2011
The father had applied for a summary order requiring the return of the daughter to Israel. The Court was asked to consider whether the Court of Appeal, having determined that such an order could not be granted under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 (‘the Convention’), was nonetheless entitled … Continue reading In re NY (A Child) (Reunite International and others intervening): SC 30 Oct 2019
How should the courts of this country react when a child is brought here pursuant to an order made abroad in proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction which is later over-turned on appeal? K was a child born in Texas and a US citizen. His father was a … Continue reading Re KL (A Child): SC 4 Dec 2013
In considering an international abduction of a four year old child by a parent Macur J said that disruption to the living arrangements of such a young child ‘would have more far reaching consequences and adverse impact than in the case of an older and less sensitive child able to comprehend a sudden departure from … Continue reading RS v KS (Abduction: Wrongful Retention): FD 26 Jun 2009
The mother had persistently made false allegations against her husband of abduction and of forgery. She had been permitted to withdraw her originating application. She appealed an order against her for costs, saying that the Convention under which the application was made contained no provision for awarding costs. Held: Though costs orders were not normally … Continue reading E C-L v DM (Child abduction: Costs): FD 11 Apr 2005
The mother fled Pakistan and secured asylum here, proving a well founded fear of persecution if she returned. She had brought her son. The father applied for the child to be returned for the courts there to decide his future, saying he had been abducted. Held: To order the return of the child anticipating the … Continue reading In re H (a Minor) (Child abduction: Mother’s Asylum): FD 25 Jul 2003
Where a child was subject to a contact order, and one parent sought to take the child abroad on holiday to a country which was not a signatory to the Convention, that application should be dealt with by a High Court Judge, and must be thoroughly prepared and investigated, since the risk of the parent … Continue reading In Re K (A Minor) (Removal From Jurisdiction: Practice): FD 29 Jul 1999
The parents were orthodox Jews. The mother brought the children to England, and resisted an order for their return, saying the father had delayed in bringing the proceedings. Held: A parent must act quickly in cases of child abduction in order to avoid a finding that he or she has been acquiescent in the abduction. … Continue reading H v H (Child Abduction: Acquiescence): CA 14 Aug 1996
The Honourable Mr Justice Hayden [2021] EWHC 3467 (Fam) Bailii 1980 Hague Convention, Children Abduction and Custody Act 1985 England and Wales Children Updated: 03 January 2022; Ref: scu.670691
(Extra Division, Inner House – Opinion of Lord Malcolm) – appeal in application for order of return of two children to their father in France. The partis disputed whether Scotland had become habitually resident in Scotland, and also whether the father had consented to their removal to Scotland. Held: The Lord ordinary granted the appeal … Continue reading AR, Re An Order Under The Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985: SCS 14 Nov 2014
‘This appeal concerns the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. It raises general questions relating to: (1) the place which the habitual residence of the child occupies in the scheme of that Convention, and (2) whether and when a wrongful retention of a child may occur if the travelling parent originally … Continue reading Re C (Children): SC 14 Feb 2018
The parents of S were Israeli citizens living in Israel. They had equal parental rights and responsibilities under Israeli law. They brought their two children to England intending to reside here for one year and then return to Israel. The father returned to Israel early and commenced proceedings for divorce. The mother remained in England … Continue reading In re S (Minors) (Child Abduction: Wrongful Retention): FD 1993
(Child Abduction: Wrongful Retention) A failure by a parent to return a child to his country of residence can constitute a wrongful retention under the Convention. Where both parents have equal status in relation to the child, one parent can not unilaterally change the habitual residence of a child. Wall J Times 21-Jul-1993, [1994] Fam … Continue reading In Re S (Minors) (Convention On the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction): FD 21 Jul 1993
The father sought the return of his son to Romania. The mother had brought him here without the father’s consent. The father said that a Romanian court had ordered his return, but the expert evidence as to the effect of the order was conflicting. Held: The child was to be returned to Romania. Hedley J … Continue reading In re D (a Child): FD 2006
The test for determining whether a child was habitually resident in a place is whether there was some degree of integration by her (or him) in a social and family environment there, may the court, in making that determination in relation to an adolescent child who has resided, particularly if only for a short time, … Continue reading In re LC (Children): SC 15 Jan 2014
F sought the return of his son K to the US. K had been brought here by M after a court order in the US,but the father subsequently appealed sucessfully, obtaining an order for K’s return. M said that the UK court had originally and correctly found K to be habitually resident in the UK, … Continue reading DL v EL (Hague Abduction Convention: effect of reversal of return order on appeal): FD 17 Jan 2013
The family had Nigerian nationality, but the father also had US nationality. After the split, M wanted to live with the children in Nigeria, and F wanted them with him in the US. On M’s visit to the UK from Nigeria with the children, the father began child abduction proceedings which had kept M and … Continue reading In re O (Children): CA 16 Feb 2011
On 21 March 1990 the mother removed the child, aged two, from Australia, where he had been habitually resident, to England with the intention of permanently residing here. She did so without the knowledge of the father who also resided in Australia but who, not having been married to the mother, had at that time … Continue reading In re J (a Minor) (Abduction: Custody rights): HL 1 Jul 1990
Rights of Custody under Convention The Court was asked as to what were ‘rights of custody’ within the Convention. M had at first left her child with the maternal grandmother in an informal but long term arrangement in Latvia when M moved to Northern Ireland. Later M removed the child to Northern Ireland against the … Continue reading In re K (A Child): SC 15 Mar 2014
Habitual Residence of Child not lost (Orse In re B (A Child) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening)) The Court considered the notion of habitual residence. The British girl with same sex parents had been taken to Pakistan, and her mother here sought her return. The other mother said that she was no longer habitually … Continue reading Re B (A Child): SC 3 Feb 2016
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This appeal concerns the relationship of the 1980 Hague Convention (the ‘1980 HC’) to asylum law. The 1980 HC is an international agreement incorporated into UK law which enables the prompt return of a wrongfully abducted child to his or her country of habitual residence. (1) Does a child named as a dependent on a … Continue reading G v G: SC 19 Mar 2021
The court considered sentencing arrangements for breaches of the 1984 Act. Lord Judge, LCJ, said: ‘The abduction of children from a loving parent is an offence of unspeakable cruelty to the loving parent and to the child or children . . It is a cruel offence even if the criminal responsible for it is the … Continue reading Regina v Kayani, Solliman: CACD 13 Dec 2011
The father appealed against the refusal of an order for the return of a child, the mother having brought her here from Australia against the father’s wishes. Held: The appeal succeeded. The crucial question as being whether the mother’s anxieties were realistically and reasonably held. Judges: Thorpe, Longmore, McFarlane LJJ Citations: [2011] EWCA Civ 1385, … Continue reading S v C: CA 2 Dec 2011
The five applicants had lived in the UK for at least three years while attending school or college. All five were subject to immigration control, four had entered as students with limited leave to remain for the duration of their studies, and the fifth had entered with his parents for settlement and had indefinite leave … Continue reading Regina v Barnet London Borough Council, Ex parte Shah: HL 16 Dec 1982
F sought a summary order for the return of his 2 year old daughter to Israel. M claimed habitual residence within the UK. Held: The court had ‘considerable concerns regarding the credibility of the mother’s evidence’. She made several allegations of abuse, for which the evidence was not Judges: MacDonald J Citations: [2019] EWHC 1310 … Continue reading TY v HY (Return Order): FD 17 Apr 2019
The 17 year old daughter applied to be joined in proceedings brought by her father for the return to Australia of her 11 year old brother. Held: She was to be joined as a pert Judges: Baker J Citations: [2009] EWHC 3288 (Fam) Links: Bailii Statutes: Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985, Hague Convention on … Continue reading W v W: FD 10 Dec 2009
The mother had brought the child to the UK wrongfully. She had hidden their identity for more than a year. Upon discovering her, the father came to England and began proceedings for the child’s return to the US. Held: Because the child’s identity had been hidden, that period could not be counted as settled existence … Continue reading Cannon v Cannon: CA 19 Oct 2004
Application under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 for an order pursuant to Art 12 of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (hereafter the 1980 Convention) directing the summary return of Ruby Margaret McKay-Uhd, born in December 2015 and now aged 3 years old, to the jurisdiction of Australia. … Continue reading Uhd v Mckay: FD 15 May 2019
Zambrano states that a non-member state national (‘TCN’) parent of an EU citizen child resident within the EU is entitled to reside in the EU. This is solely to avoid the EU citizen child being deprived of the substance of their Union citizenship rights on removal of the TCN parent from the EU. P an … Continue reading Patel v Secretary of State for The Home Department: SC 16 Dec 2019
An habitual residence dispute is a dispute on a matter of fact not of law. It cannot be settled by the choice of the parents. A child cannot acquire habitual residence in a country without actually being physically present in that country. Citations: Times 03-Jan-1996, Ind Summary 29-Jan-1996, [1996] 1 FLR 887 Statutes: Hague Convention … Continue reading In Re M (A Minor) (Habitual Residence): CA 3 Jan 1996
(Grand Chamber) The Swiss Court had rejected the claimant mother’s claim, under article 13b of the Hague Convention, that there was a grave risk that returning the child to Israel would lead to physical or psychological harm or otherwise place him in an intolerable situation. Held: To enforce the order would be an unjustifiable interference … Continue reading Neulinger And Shuruk v Switzerland: ECHR 6 Jul 2010
Application under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 and the Hague Convention 1980 for the return of the parties’ daughter, X to Spain. Judges: Mr Robert Peel QC Citations: [2020] EWHC 1599 (Fam) Links: Bailii Jurisdiction: England and Wales Children Updated: 03 February 2022; Ref: scu.655257
Application under the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 for an order pursuant to Art 12 of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (hereafter the 1980 Convention) directing the summary return of R, a girl born in 2012 and now aged 9 and H, a girl born in 2019 and … Continue reading K v T (Habitual Residence): FD 11 Jun 2021
Judgment on the applicant father’s application for an order that his daughter Kate, who is now aged 14, be returned forthwith to Malta pursuant to Article 12 of the Hague Convention on the International Aspects of Child Abduction 1980, as incorporated domestically by the Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985. Held: Mostyn J said: ‘there … Continue reading SP (Father) v EB (Mother) and Another: FD 26 Nov 2014
The Hague Convention did not apply to wrongful acts of removal which had taken place before the 1985 Act came into force.Lord Donaldson MR said: ‘plainly the Act and Convention can only apply if the child is found in a different State from that in which it was habitually resident’ Lord Donaldson MR Independent 20 … Continue reading In re H (Minors): CA 20 Aug 1990
ECJ Judicial co-operation in civil matters – Jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility – Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 Substantive scope – Definition of ‘civil matters’ – Decision relating to the taking into care and placement of children outside the family home – Child’s habitual … Continue reading A (Area of Freedom, Security and Justice): ECJ 2 Apr 2009
ECHR Article 8-1 Respect for family life Lack of participation of a parent in proceedings concerning the return of his child under the Hague Convention: violation Facts – The applicant, a Spanish national, had a child with a Slovak woman in Spain. A year later the mother took the child to Slovakia. The applicant lodged … Continue reading Lopez-Guio v Slovakia: ECHR 3 Jun 2014
Proceedings under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction 1980 MacDonald J [2016] EWHC 1339 (Fam), [2016] Fam Law 1093, [2018] 1 WLR 350, [2017] 1 FLR 1750 Bailii Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 England and Wales Children Updated: 06 December 2021; Ref: scu.566434
Unreasonable Behaviour must reach criteria W appealed against the judge’s refusal to grant a decree of divorce. He found that the marriage had broken down irretrievably, but did not find that H had behaved iin such a way that she could not reasonably be expected to live with H. Held: W’s appeal failed. ‘What the … Continue reading Owens v Owens: CA 24 Mar 2017
The court was asked whether it should order the return to France of two little girls who have been living with their mother in Scotland since July 2013. The issue arose under article 3 of the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, as incorporated into the law of the United … Continue reading AR v RN (Scotland): SC 22 May 2015
ECJ Judicial cooperation in civil matters – Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 – Matrimonial matters and parental responsibility – Child whose parents are not married – Concept of ‘habitual residence’ of an infant – Concept of ‘rights of custody’.A two month old baby born in England to unmarried parents and removed by her French mother to … Continue reading Mercredi v Richard Chaffe (Area of Freedom, Security And Justice): ECJ 22 Dec 2010
