International Family Lawyer

International family law issues can be complex and highly sensitive, particularly when they involve children, overseas assets, or families living across different countries. Whether you are dealing with an urgent situation or planning ahead after a relationship breakdown, early, informed advice is essential. JMW’s international family lawyers provide clear, strategic support to clients in the UK and abroad, guiding you through cross-border decisions that can have lasting consequences for your family.

We regularly assist parents and families with international child arrangements, including relocation, overseas travel disputes, wrongful retention, and abduction. Our team also advises on international divorce, financial remedy proceedings, and cases involving foreign marriages or overseas property. When circumstances require swift action, we have the experience and resources to respond immediately, including by obtaining emergency orders to prevent children from leaving the jurisdiction.

Our international family law solicitors combine deep technical expertise with practical, empathetic support. We work closely with trusted lawyers worldwide, enabling us to manage the legal, procedural and cultural differences between jurisdictions. Whatever your circumstances, we can help you understand your legal position and take decisive steps to safeguard your family’s future.

You can speak to a member of our team by calling 0345 872 6666, or by completing our online enquiry form.

How JMW Can Help

International family law requires a careful blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and sensitive client support. Cases with a cross-border element often move quickly, and the decisions you make at an early stage can shape the entire outcome. Our international family law team provides clear guidance from the outset, helping you understand your position and act with confidence.

We assist clients across England and Wales, as well as UK nationals living overseas, international families, and individuals with global careers or assets in multiple jurisdictions. Our work includes emergency applications, long-term planning, and structured negotiations designed to protect your children and your financial interests.

Where negotiation is possible, we pursue child-focused and family-centred outcomes through mediation, solicitor-led discussions, and other forms of non-court dispute resolution. Where court proceedings are necessary, we act swiftly and decisively to protect your position.

Our team of skilled family law specialists is recognised in the Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and the Spear’s 500 for our expertise in complex and sensitive international issues. We have extensive experience in complex international cases, including those involving the Hague Convention, non-Hague countries, habitual residence disputes, and situations where the laws of England and Wales conflict with those of another jurisdiction. We work closely with a network of specialist family lawyers across the world to ensure that every aspect of your case is handled effectively, wherever the issues arise.

Whatever your circumstances, we are here to provide structured, focused support and guide you through the steps needed to secure the best possible outcome for your family.

See what our clients say about our service by visiting our family law testimonials, or see other family law services that we provide by visiting our page of useful family law links.

Meet Our Team

Our family law team offers expert advice and compassionate support on international children law matters, helping you navigate cross-border disputes and protect the best interests of your child.

Case Study

Areas of International Family Law We Advise On

International family law spans many situations where more than one country’s legal system may be involved. Our team advises on the full range of issues, including:

International divorce and separation

When spouses live in different countries, were married abroad, or hold multiple nationalities, determining where to start divorce proceedings can have a major effect on financial outcomes and child arrangements. We help you understand your jurisdiction options and act quickly to protect your position.

Cross-border financial settlements

Financial remedy cases involving overseas assets require specialist handling. We advise on:

• Property owned abroad
• International business interests
• Trusts and complex wealth structures
• Enforcement of financial orders overseas
• Coordinating parallel proceedings across jurisdictions

Our team regularly works with trusted advisers abroad to secure a fair and workable settlement.

Relocation and international travel disputes

Our international family law experts can assist parents who wish to relocate abroad with their children, as well as those opposing a proposed move. We also advise on disputes regarding holidays, extended visits, and safeguarding arrangements when a child will spend time overseas.

Child abduction and emergency protection

We act in cases involving:

• Wrongful removal or retention
• Hague Convention and non-Hague Convention countries
• Urgent prohibited steps orders
• Port alerts and passport orders

Our team responds immediately where a child is at risk, using both court applications and preventive measures.

International surrogacy and parenthood

Working with families expanding through international surrogacy, donor conception, and fertility treatment, we guide parents through parental orders, domicile requirements, and the complex cross-border issues that can arise in these arrangements.

What to Do When Your Case Involves More Than One Country

International family law issues often require swift action and careful coordination. If your situation touches more than one jurisdiction, it is essential to:

• Understand which country has the right to deal with your case, and resolve questions surrounding habitual residence and domicile.
• Seek early advice, as the timing of an application can affect both financial outcomes and decisions about children.
• Consider how foreign law interacts with the law of England and Wales, particularly regarding divorce, parental responsibility, and the enforcement of orders.
• Take steps to protect assets or secure immediate safeguards for children if there is a risk of removal from the country.
• Work with a solicitor who collaborates effectively with lawyers abroad, ensuring that your position is supported on all fronts.

International matters can move quickly, and acting early can make a meaningful difference to the outcome for you and your family. Get in touch with JMW to speak to a specialist international family lawyer about the specifics of your case.

Q

How do I ensure that arrangements for my children are followed when they move abroad?

A

We frequently negotiate international child contact arrangements and obtain court orders in England, Wales and overseas to ensure contact plans are respected. A child arrangements order can be made by agreement between you and the other parent and then formally approved by the court.

Where the case involves another country, it is often possible to register an English or Welsh court order abroad, which can strengthen your position if arrangements are not being followed.

Many countries now participate in international family law conventions that support the cross-border enforcement of orders. Our international family lawyers can advise on which mechanisms apply in your situation and take steps to protect your ongoing relationship with your child.

Q

Can I prevent a former partner from moving abroad with our children?

A

Your former partner cannot lawfully take your children out of the country without your consent or permission from the court. If you believe they plan to relocate abroad, we will analyse their proposals in detail to assess whether you have a strong basis to oppose the move.

Ultimately, the family court will decide based on your child’s best interests. If the proposed move would not protect their welfare, the court can refuse permission.

If you are concerned that the other parent may try to leave the UK without consent, seek urgent advice from our international family solicitors. Early intervention can make a decisive difference.

Q

What can I do if I am worried my former partner may take our children abroad without permission?

A

If there is a real and imminent risk that your children may be taken abroad without consent, you may need to:

• Inform the police immediately
• Apply urgently to the court for a prohibited steps order
• Request a port alert, stopping your children from being removed via airports or ports
• Seek orders restricting the issue of new or replacement passports

These measures can be put in place quickly in genuine emergency situations. As a preventative step, you should ensure your children’s passports are stored securely.

Whatever happens, you should not delay in taking legal advice, as it is far easier to stop children from leaving the country than it is to secure their return after they have gone. We have helped to resolve many international cases involving children, and have the expertise to deal with your case swiftly and effectively.

Q

What if my former partner will not agree to me moving back to my home country with our children?

A

You cannot move a child to another country without permission from everyone who has parental responsibility or, failing that, permission from the court. Moving abroad without consent may constitute child abduction.

If relocation is your goal, we will discuss:

• How the move would work in practical terms
• The support available in the proposed country
• Schooling, accommodation and financial stability
• How ongoing contact with the other parent would be maintained

If it is not possible to persuade the other parent to agree to you and the children moving, then we would consider how strong your case would be if you decided to apply to the court for permission.

If you decided to apply to the court, we would need to provide a detailed explanation of your plans and demonstrate that you have robust and practical proposals to enable the children to continue to see their other parent. The court would then consider carefully whether it is in the children's best interests to relocate, before deciding whether or not to grant you permission.

Q

How does the court decide which country should deal with my case?

A

International family law is governed by rules on jurisdiction, which consider factors such as:

• The child’s habitual residence
• The parties’ domicile
• Where the marriage occurred
• The location of assets

The country that has the closest connection to your situation usually has the right to deal with the case. Jurisdiction can impact everything from financial settlements to child arrangements, so it is essential to seek early advice from a specialist international family solicitor.

Q

What if my case involves assets in another country?

A

Where finances span multiple jurisdictions, we work closely with trusted international lawyers to value, secure and, where necessary, enforce orders against overseas assets.

This may include:

• Property abroad
• International business interests
• Trusts
• Offshore accounts
• Pensions located outside the UK

Cross-border financial settlements require coordinated, strategic advice. Our international financial remedy specialists have extensive experience handling high-value, multi-jurisdiction cases.

Q

Can international agreements such as prenuptial agreements be recognised in England and Wales?

A

Some prenuptial and postnuptial agreements created abroad can be recognised in England and Wales, depending on:

• The law of the country where the agreement was made
• Whether both parties received independent legal advice
• Whether the agreement is considered fair under English law

We can review an existing international agreement or prepare an English agreement to support your position if you are relocating or marrying abroad.