AA v BB & Anor

The Recorder failed to adequately consider the impact on the child and her main carer of frequent travel for contact, failed to weigh the welfare advantages of the mother and stepfather's proposal, and placed undue emphasis on financial arguments, rendering the interim child arrangements order wrong. The appeal is allowed and a new interim child arrangements order is made.

Parties: Appellant: AA; First Respondent: BB; Second Respondent: CC
Jurisdiction: England and Wales
Judgment Date: 02 November 2026
Procedural Posture: Family Appeal / Judgment on Appeal
Outcome: Appeal allowed; cross-appeals dismissed
Legal Topics: Child Arrangements, Parental Responsibility, Relocation, Interim Orders, Expert Evidence, Case Management

Family Law Child Arrangements Parental Responsibility Relocation Interim Orders Expert Evidence Case Management

Case Brief

Summary, issues, holding and outcome

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Full judgment text Downloadable case file Legal principles 3 Authorities cited 2 Party arguments 2 Amounts and remedies 1

Parties

Appellant

First Respondent

Second Respondent

Procedural Posture

Family Appeal / Judgment on Appeal

Legal Issues

1 Whether the interim child arrangements order was correct
2 Appropriateness of directions for instruction of a single joint expert
3 Whether the prohibited steps order was justified

Ratio Decidendi

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; cross-appeals dismissed

Orders

Interim child arrangements order revised: contact between DD and her father to occur in two periods each month, one in the capital of Country Y over two days (two hours each day), and one in England over three successive days (two hours each day), supervised by Aidhour in England.
Expert Anna Sava to be instructed as single joint expert.