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International Family Law Solicitors
Watkins Solicitors is a multi-award-winning law firm advising clients across England and Wales. Our specialist International Family Law department helps parents and families involved in complex family disputes with links to more than one country.
This includes international divorce, international child arrangements, child contact, international relocation and parental child abduction cases.
The department is led by Andy Kerese, Associate Solicitor and Head of International Family at Watkins Solicitors. Andy holds Family Law Advanced Accreditation from The Law Society and has experience advising on urgent and complex cases involving children, multiple jurisdictions and cross-border family disputes.
Watkins Solicitors is accepted onto the ICACU Panel of Solicitors, the official referral list used in international child abduction cases. This reflects the team’s experience where children have been taken abroad, retained overseas or may be at risk of removal from England and Wales.
International family law cases are often urgent and complex. They may involve different legal systems, unfamiliar court processes, international treaties, foreign court orders and coordination between lawyers, courts and authorities in more than one country.
Our approach is child-focused, practical and resolution-led. Where a negotiated outcome is safe and realistic, we will explore it. Where immediate court action is needed, we will act quickly and clearly.
To speak to our team, please call 0117 939 0350 or email info@watkinssolicitors.co.uk.
Accepted onto the official referral panel used in international child abduction cases.
Led by Andy Kerese, who holds Family Law Advanced Accreditation.
Clear advice where a child has been removed or may be at immediate risk.
Advice for families across England and Wales, including international clients.
If your child has been taken abroad, has not been returned after an agreed trip, or you believe there is an immediate risk of removal from England and Wales, timing can affect the options available.
Permission from everyone with parental responsibility, or permission from the court, is usually required before taking a child abroad. Taking a child abroad without permission may amount to child abduction.
In urgent cases, we can advise on emergency applications, Prohibited Steps Orders, wardship, passport-related measures, port alerts and steps to notify relevant authorities.
International family law covers family disputes where more than one country, legal system or jurisdiction is involved.
Where there is any connection with another country, early advice from a solicitor experienced in cross-border family disputes can make a significant difference.
These cases may move quickly and can involve more than one legal system, court or authority.
We advise parents where a child has been taken abroad without permission or has not been returned after an agreed trip.
Wrongful removal may arise where a child is taken across an international border without the required consent or court permission.
Wrongful retention may arise where a trip began with consent but the child was not returned at the agreed time.
Both situations require urgent and careful legal advice.
The Hague Convention is an international agreement that can help secure the return of a child wrongfully removed from, or retained outside, their country of habitual residence.
Examples of participating countries include France, Spain, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The legal position must be checked for the particular countries involved, including whether the Convention operates between them.
The usual Hague return process may not be available, and a different legal strategy may be required.
This may involve High Court applications, wardship, orders in England and Wales, passport or travel measures, overseas lawyers and practical enforcement options.
Cases involving countries where the Convention does not operate require urgent, realistic and country-specific advice.
We advise parents making and responding to Hague Convention applications and parents involved in non-Hague Convention child abduction cases.
If you are worried that your child may be taken abroad without your agreement, urgent protective action may be needed.
A parent who wants to move abroad with a child will usually need consent from everyone with parental responsibility or permission from the court.
The court focuses on the child’s welfare, including schooling, housing, healthcare, finances, family support and how the relationship with the other parent will be maintained.
If the other parent wants to move abroad with your child and you do not agree, it is important to seek advice quickly.
We can help you respond to the proposal, gather evidence and explain the likely effect on your relationship with your child.
Habitual residence identifies the country that forms the centre of a child’s life and can affect which country’s courts should make decisions.
Disputes may arise after a recent move, where parents disagree about whether a move was temporary or permanent, or where proceedings exist in more than one country.
A foreign family court order may need to be recognised or enforced in England and Wales.
An English order needed abroad may require advice and action in both countries.
International adoption can involve complex legal, immigration and safeguarding requirements.
We advise on adopting from another country, recognition of foreign adoptions, immigration and nationality issues, and steps required before arrangements are made overseas.
We advise parents and families in urgent, complex and cross-border situations.
Early advice can help protect your position, identify the correct legal route and preserve as many practical options as possible.
Where the usual Hague return process is unavailable, other legal and practical options may need to be considered urgently.
The available route will depend on the country involved, the child’s circumstances, any existing court orders and what practical enforcement may be possible.
These cases require urgent, careful and realistic advice, often involving overseas lawyers and authorities.
Every international family law case is different, but our approach is designed to provide clarity from the outset.
We identify the immediate issue, where the child is, existing orders, parental responsibility and possible jurisdiction.
Where needed, we advise on emergency applications, passport restrictions, port alerts and urgent court orders.
We consider whether the Hague Convention applies or whether a different international strategy is needed.
We help prepare court documents, evidence and supporting information.
Where appropriate, we work with overseas lawyers, authorities and other professionals.
We advise on child arrangements, contact, relocation, enforcement and safeguarding after the urgent issue is addressed.
Where appropriate, mediation, negotiation and other non-court processes may help parents reach agreement more quickly and reduce conflict.
Family mediation is an independent process and may assist with arrangements for children and finances.
Mediation is not suitable in every international dispute, particularly where there is a risk of child abduction, domestic abuse, safeguarding concerns or a need for immediate protective orders.
We will advise clearly on the safest and most appropriate route.
Our team can advise on urgent child abduction concerns, Hague and non-Hague cases, international relocation, cross-border child arrangements, foreign orders and international adoption.
Watkins Solicitors is a multi-award-winning law firm with a specialist International Family Law department advising clients across England and Wales.
The team is led by Andy Kerese, who holds Family Law Advanced Accreditation from The Law Society.
Our wider experience in children law, domestic abuse, public law and human rights means we can advise where international disputes overlap with safeguarding, welfare or public authority concerns.
Legal Aid may be available for some international child abduction cases, depending on the type of case and your circumstances.
We can advise at the outset about funding options, eligibility and the likely cost of taking urgent legal action.
Where a matter is urgent, early contact allows us to identify the most appropriate next steps.
Select any question below to read the answer. More than one answer can remain open at the same time.
Yes, it may be child abduction if a child is taken abroad without the consent of everyone with parental responsibility or without permission from the court.
This may be wrongful retention. A trip may begin with consent, but if the child is not returned at the agreed time, urgent legal advice should be sought.
In urgent cases, you may be able to apply for a Prohibited Steps Order or other protective measures. If there is a real risk of removal, you should seek legal advice immediately.
The Hague Convention is an international agreement that provides a process for seeking the return of children wrongfully removed or retained across international borders where the Convention operates between the countries involved.
The case may be more complex. Other options may still be available, including High Court applications, wardship and advice from lawyers in the country involved.
You usually need consent from everyone with parental responsibility or permission from the court. Moving without consent or court permission may lead to allegations of child abduction.
The court will focus on the child’s welfare. It will consider the practical relocation plan, schooling, housing, financial arrangements, family relationships and how contact with the other parent will continue.
Habitual residence means the country that forms the centre of a child’s life. The court will consider the child’s day-to-day life, family connections, schooling, routine and how settled they are in a particular country.
In some cases, yes. This depends on the country involved, the type of order and whether an international convention or reciprocal arrangement applies.
Yes. Watkins Solicitors advises clients across England and Wales on international family law matters, as well as clients elsewhere in the UK and overseas.
Immediately. In child abduction and removal-risk cases, timing can affect the options available.
An international divorce usually means the marriage or divorce has links to more than one country, for example because one or both spouses live abroad, the marriage took place abroad, or there are overseas assets or children in another country.
In some cases, yes. This will depend on the legal connection to England and Wales, including issues such as domicile, habitual residence and jurisdiction.
Parental child abduction usually means a parent takes or keeps a child abroad without the consent of everyone with parental responsibility or without permission from the court.
If you need advice about international child abduction, a Hague Convention application, a non-Hague case, international relocation, cross-border child arrangements, habitual residence, a foreign family court order, international divorce or international adoption, please contact us as soon as possible.
We support clients from our offices in Bristol, Bath and Hereford, as well as clients across England and Wales and overseas.
If your child has been taken abroad, has not been returned or may be at immediate risk of removal from England and Wales, please tell us this when you contact us so your enquiry can be treated as urgent.
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