England and Wales Case Law

A Mother v A Father

The court found the children were habitually resident in England and Wales and wrongfully retained in Costa Rica by the father. The respondent’s failure to engage, the risk of onward abduction to a non-Hague country, the emotional harm to the children, and the need for swift action constituted good reasons to exercise the inherent jurisdiction and order their immediate return, rather than await the outcome of Hague Convention proceedings.

Source excerpt

• Wardship
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Hague convention 1980
• Summary return orders
• Habitual residence

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N'Djosse v Adeyeye

N'Djosse v Adeyeye [2026] EWHC 1033 (Fam) (01 May 2026)

The High Court used its exceptional inherent jurisdiction in a child abduction case, continued committal action for contempt, granted disclosure orders, and lifted anonymity.

• Wardship
• Return order
• Jurisdiction (inherent powers)
• Committal for contempt
• Disclosure orders
• Publicity and anonymity

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Claire Mireille N’Djosse v Ifedayo Adedapo Kolawole Adeyeye

The High Court ordered the return of a child abducted to Nigeria, exercised its inherent jurisdiction, found contempt, and allowed publication of the family’s names.

• Wardship
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Committal for contempt
• Return order
• Jurisdictional issues
• Disclosure orders

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DE (A Child: Inward Return Order From India), Re

The High Court ordered the urgent return of a one-year-old child from India to England and Wales, finding the father abducted the child and had perpetrated domestic abuse.

• Wardship
• Jurisdiction
• Forum non conveniens
• Summary return order
• Domestic abuse findings
• Fact-finding

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A (A Child) (Habitual Residence), Re

The court held that A was habitually resident in India on 17 October 2025, so it lacked jurisdiction. The wardship and summary return applications were dismissed.

• Habitual residence
• Wardship
• Jurisdiction of english courts
• Summary return of child
• Habitual-residence
• Child-arrangements-jurisdiction

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A (A Child), Re (Habitual Residence)

A (A Child), Re (Habitual Residence) [2026] EWHC 1140 (Fam) (28 April 2026)

The High Court held that A was habitually resident in India on the application date, so it lacked jurisdiction over the wardship and summary return application.

• Habitual residence
• Jurisdiction of english courts
• Wardship
• Child abduction
• Summary return
• Forum non conveniens

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C (A Child: Transnational Abandonment: Wardship), Re

The court found a young child remained habitually resident in England and Wales after being stranded in Pakistan, and made him a ward of court.

• Wardship
• Habitual residence
• Transnational abandonment
• Domestic abuse
• Jurisdiction
• Parental responsibility

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C, Re (A CHILD: TRANSNATIONAL ABANDONMENT: WARDSHIP)

C, Re (A CHILD: TRANSNATIONAL ABANDONMENT: WARDSHIP) [2026] EWHC 594 (Fam) (13 March 2026)

The court found a young child remained habitually resident in England and Wales after being stranded in Pakistan, and made him a ward of court.

• Wardship
• Habitual residence
• Transnational abandonment
• Domestic abuse
• Jurisdiction
• Parental responsibility

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M v F

The court found extensive domestic abuse by F against M and the children, determined that the children should live with M with only indirect contact with F pending completion of domestic abuse and anger management programmes, and concluded that international relocation could not be granted at this stage but permission to travel was appropriate, with relocation application adjourned for further consideration.

Source excerpt

• Child arrangements
• International relocation
• Domestic violence
• Prohibited steps order
• Wardship
• Indirect contact

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Somerset Council v Mother & Ors

Somerset Council v Mother & Ors [2025] EWFC 417 (02 December 2025)

Care proceedings concerning three children were resolved by discharging interim care orders, making the children wards of court, and permitting relocation to the Philippines with safeguards.

• Care proceedings
• Wardship
• Inherent jurisdiction
• Child relocation
• Recognition of foreign orders
• Parental responsibility

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