International and national child relocation solicitors
Our specialist child solicitors are dedicated to working collaboratively with you, if you are considering a move overseas with a child or seek to challenge it.
If you’re considering moving overseas with your children, it’s vital to speak to a family lawyer to ensure you do things in the right way. Alternatively, if you oppose such a move, taking early legal advice can help you to strengthen your position.
Even taking a holiday abroad with children can present problems.
If you're worried about abduction risks, your children not coming back from an overseas stay, or being accused of child abduction, our expert solicitors are here to offer guidance and support. It can be vital to act quickly.
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Child relocation solicitors
The possibility of relocating to another country, or even within the UK, with children is fraught with complexity and requires careful consideration and specialist family law advice at the earliest possible stage, whether you are the parent planning to move, or the parent facing being left behind.
A change of location, and change to contact with the non-moving parent, will have a substantial impact upon any child of the family and it is therefore important that parents take proactive steps to ensure that they are well prepared should a court application be necessary.
Parents might not be aware that it's possible to be accused of abducting their own children. Moving to another country with your children, without agreement from their other parent, can be child abduction, as is taking them overseas without agreement or a court order, even for a holiday.
Holidays
Taking your child abroad on holiday can often become a focus of dispute. If you are planning to take them overseas without the consent of the other parent or a court order granting you permission, you risk orders being made against you, preventing travel, and accusations of child abduction.
If you are worried about a child being taken abroad without your consent, it can be vital to seek urgent legal advice. Prohibited steps orders may be required, with additional prevention's available in extreme situations.
Accolades
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The team provides an exceptional service of early, clear and realistic advice, very high attention to detail, considered and careful analysis of all realistic angles, and options to ensure that every step is taken at the appropriate time to ensure that the client's interests are best promoted and secured.
Legal 500 2026 -
The team offers a professional service. All of the members of the team I have dealt with have been knowledgeable and committed to getting the best result for the client.
Legal 500 2026 -
The care taken by the team is remarkable and reassuring for clients.
Legal 500 2026 -
An efficient team performing at a high level.
Legal 500 2026 -
A wonderful team who offer pragmatic advice whilst robustly defending the interests of their clients.
Legal 500 2026 -
Weightmans family law department is very dynamic. Being part of a larger firm means that they are able to draw on the expertise of other departments in the firm, which can be extremely helpful.
Legal 500 2025 -
Highly specialised family law team with a breadth of experience.
Legal 500 2025 -
The team at Weightmans is well known and respected in the family law market... They approach complex family law matters in a straightforward manner that is focused on resolution for their clients.
Legal 500 2025 -
The team is made up of extremely capable individuals dealing with complex and high-net-worth work. They are all technically very sound and work in a collaborative way with other lawyers.
Legal 500 2025 -
Weightmans have expanded hugely their family law capacity which is testament to their aspirations within this space... Experience, reputation and depth all add to the overall approach.
Legal 500 2025 -
The family team are totally focused on assisting clients to identify their immediate needs as well as helping them to gain clarity around the future. They take a family focused view and work on the assumption that court action should be avoided if at all possible by working collaboratively with other solicitors.
Legal 500 2025 -
The team provided fantastic communication and sound advice throughout the process. All possible outcomes and costs were set out at the beginning - they couldn’t have been more helpful.
Chambers 2025 -
The team showed total professional attention to detail and gave me inspiration to continue even when things seemed unsurmountable.
Chambers 2025 -
They couldn’t be more efficient and nothing is ever too much trouble for them.
Chambers 2025 -
Clients get what they pay for at Weightmans in that the preparation is meticulous. They are so good at looking after the client and making sure that everything is where it needs to be.
Chambers 2025 -
The lawyers are very experienced with knowledge encompassing a broad range of family law issues. They are adept at dealing with cross-border disputes and I would rate them as very strong in this area.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans is very up to speed in the latest legal trends and has good connections with the legal profession.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans has technically competent lawyers with a focus on solutions and the team is very pleasant to deal with, which benefits their clients.
Chambers 2025 -
Weightmans is efficient, experienced and professional. The team has an excellent range of experiences and ability, and they provide immediate responses.
Chambers 2025
Our other child law services
What permission do I need to take my child abroad?
If you are planning to take your child overseas, it is critical that you ensure you have the right permission before doing so.
The permission you will need depends upon the law in the country where you reside, as well as who has parental rights for your child, what agreements you have in place with the child’s other parent, and if there are any court orders in place.
Even if you believe you have the right to take your child across international borders, it is always best to check.
How do I stop my child from being taken out of the country?
It is possible to get an urgent Prohibited Steps Order to prevent your child from being taken out of the country. These can be granted on short notice and, in certain circumstances, without informing the child’s other parent until after the order is in place.
In high-risk cases where the threat of child abduction is immediate, it can also be possible to get a Port Alert to block any attempt at leaving the country.
I don’t want to issue court proceedings. Can I resolve this without court?
Child relocation and child abduction cases require analysis and careful consideration of all the issues. Plenty of cases can be resolved by mutual agreement without court proceedings.
You should seek expert legal advice as soon as possible. Lawyers do more than just represent at court; they can negotiate, mediate and signpost you to suitable agencies and support networks.
Frequently asked questions
