International relocation with children (Pt 2)

In brief

• Reviews three recent family court decisions involving international relocation applications by parents, highlighting the nuanced judicial balancing of children’s welfare, parental rights, and practical realities.
• Across all cases, courts applied the welfare checklist and considered children’s wishes, emotional wellbeing, and continuity of relationships—reinforcing that each decision is fact-specific and guided by the best interests of the child.

In Part 1 of this update, we looked at cases involving previous findings of fact (see NLJ, 26 September 2025 p13). Here we look at some further cases which provide us with a valuable insight into the court’s approach towards these difficult and finely balanced decisions.

A father v A mother [2024] EWFC 381 (B)

This case concerned the mother’s application for permission to relocate with the parties’ two children, a son and a daughter, to Australia, and the father’s application