England and Wales Case Law

A v B & Ors

The welfare of the children requires that C be returned to England to live with the mother so that both children can be together in the care of the more capable and trustworthy parent. The father's conduct, including dishonesty, breach of court orders, financial abuse, and manipulation of the child, undermines any confidence in his proposed safeguards or in the children living with him in Egypt. The mother's refusal to return to Egypt is reasonable given the lack of enforceable protections. The best interests of the children are served by their reunification in England with the mother.

Source excerpt

• Child abduction
• Habitual residence
• Welfare principle
• Enforcement of foreign orders
• Parental responsibility
• Financial provision

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A v B

A v B [2025] EWHC 3370 (Fam) (08 December 2025)

The High Court ordered C returned from Egypt to England to live with the mother, refused D’s return to Egypt, and rejected reliance on the father’s proposed soft-landing scheme.

• Child abduction
• Habitual residence
• Welfare principle
• Enforcement of foreign orders
• Financial provision
• Parental responsibility

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S (Financial Provision – Application of Standish and the issue of costs), Re

The only asset regarded as purely matrimonial is the former matrimonial home. All other assets are non-matrimonial, sourced from inheritance or Applicant's father's joint venture, with no evidence of Respondent's contribution. The matrimonial home is to be sold and proceeds divided equally. Applicant is awarded 75% of her post-FDR costs due to Respondent's unreasonable position and failure to accept a more generous open offer.

Source excerpt

• Financial provision
• Matrimonial assets
• Non-matrimonial assets
• Costs
• Inheritance
• Division of property

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AA and BB (Children: Return Order: Dubai), Re

AA and BB (Children: Return Order: Dubai), Re [2025] EWHC 358 (Fam) (14 February 2025)

The High Court refused to order the children’s summary return to Dubai, finding their welfare was best served by remaining in England.

• Summary return of children
• Non-hague convention country
• Child welfare
• Habitual residence
• Relocation
• Parental responsibility

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S, Re (Financial Provision - Application of Standish and the issue of costs)

S, Re (Financial Provision - Application of Standish and the issue of costs) [2024] EWFC 436 (B) (15 October 2024)

The Family Court held that most assets were non-matrimonial because they were inherited or derived from the wife’s family. The former matrimonial home was sold and divided equally, and the husband was ordered to pay costs.

• Financial provision
• Matrimonial assets
• Non-matrimonial assets
• Costs
• Division of property
• Inheritance

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EK v DK & Ors

The husband deliberately and dishonestly failed to disclose his intention and arrangements to purchase a new property, his access to significant liquidity, and the true position regarding overseas litigation at the time of the consent order. This intentional non-disclosure was material and deprived the wife and the court of the opportunity to make an informed decision. Applying the principle that fraud unravels all, the consent order must be set aside.

Source excerpt

• Financial provision
• Consent orders
• Non-disclosure
• Fraudulent misrepresentation
• Set aside applications

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MB v CD

The mother cannot reasonably obtain legal services without the order, as she cannot secure a loan or charge her only property, and her solicitors will not continue to act without payment for past and future costs. The sums sought are excessive, but a reduced order is justified for both financial and Children Act proceedings.

Source excerpt

• Legal services payment order
• Financial provision
• Children act proceedings
• Enforcement of financial orders
• Variation of financial orders

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G v H (Relocation to Australia: Immigration Issues)

On a fine balance, the court held that the child's best interests required granting the mother permission to relocate to Australia due to her precarious financial and immigration situation in the UK, the child's dependence on her as primary carer, and the support available in Australia, despite the significant detriment to the child's relationship with the father.

Source excerpt

• Relocation of child
• Welfare of the child
• Parental responsibility
• Contact arrangements
• Immigration issues
• Financial provision

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OLGA CAZALET (otherwise ANGELA JILINA) v WALID ABU-ZALAF

The Family Court refused to rescind a 2013 decree nisi, finding no genuine reconciliation or material error. The husband’s application to make the decree absolute was granted.

• Divorce
• Rescission of decree nisi
• Prenuptial agreement
• Financial provision
• Marital reconciliation
• Family-law

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B v A

In a fact-finding hearing about parental allegations, the court rejected claims of rape and strangulation, but found the father had been insensitive, controlling and financially unreasonable.

• Domestic abuse
• Fact finding
• Child arrangements
• Parental responsibility
• Financial provision
• Family-law

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