International Child Custody Disputes: How Jurisdiction Is Determined When a Child's Residence Changes During Legal Proceedings
Published on :
06/08/2025
06
August
Aug
08
2025
Keywords: international divorce, child custody jurisdiction, habitual residence, Brussels II ter, cross-border custody, international family law, parental responsibility, court jurisdiction in child cases, child relocation, custody dispute across countries
Jurisdiction in International Child Custody Cases
When a couple separates and resides in different countries, questions of jurisdiction—especially concerning child custody and parental responsibility—become highly complex. Determining which country’s court has the authority to rule on custody issues requires a careful application of European Union Regulation 2019/1111 (Brussels II ter) and other international legal instruments.
The situation becomes even more complex when the child's residence changes during ongoing legal proceedings.
French Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) has had recently issued a landmark ruling Cass. civ. 1ère, 1er juin 2023, n°21-18.25
One Family, Multiple Countries
A couple married in 2006, with two children born in the Czech Republic in 2008 and 2012.
The family later moved to Costa Rica.
After separating in 2018, the mother relocated to the United States with the children, while the father moved to France.
In 2019, the father initiated divorce proceedings in France.
In 2021, the Dijon Court of Appeal ordered the mother to return the children to France, rejecting her claim that the French court lacked international jurisdiction.
The mother appealed to the French Court of Cassation, arguing that the children had since moved to Spain, where they had lived for 18 months
Court Findings and Ruling
The French courts established that, at the time the proceedings began in 2019, the children were habitually resident in the United States.
Even though the children later moved to Spain, this did not affect the original jurisdiction.
Therefore:
Article 7(Bruxels II ter) applied — habitual residence in the U.S. meant the U.S. courts had jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction is determined based on the child's habitual residence at the time the court is seized, not where the child resides during later stages of the case.
Practical Implications for Parents
If you're facing a similar situation—international divorce with children involved, and one parent relocates with the child—understanding the rules of habitual residence is crucial. Moving a child to another country after proceedings begin will not change which court has authority.
What to Consider
Act quickly after separation to file proceedings in the correct jurisdiction.
Do not assume custody jurisdiction follows the child's movement.
Consult a lawyer specialized in international family law if you or your ex-partner live in different countries.
You can contact us
Read more about the topic of International Family Law
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