The Weekly Law Reports
[2013] 3 WLR 1597
Supreme Court
In re L (A Child) (Custody: Habitual Residence) (Reunite International Child Abduction Centre intervening)
[2013] UKSC 75
2013 Nov 18;
Dec 4
Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury PSC, Baroness Hale of Richmond DPSC, Lord Wilson, Lord Hughes, Lord Hodge JJSC
Children— Custody rights— Jurisdiction— Habitual residence— Child born in Texas— Father granted exclusive right by Texan court to determine child’s primary residence— Mother bringing child to England pursuant to United States court order under Hague Convention on ground of child’s habitual residence in England— United States order for return to England reversed on father’s appeal— Father applying to High Court under Hague Convention, alternatively court’s inherent jurisdiction, for child’s return to United States— Whether child’s habitual residence in England— Whether power under inherent jurisdiction to order return to United States despite habitual residence in England— Whether child to be returned—
Child Abduction and Custody Act 1985 (c 60), Sch 1, arts 3, 18[1]
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Family Law Act 1986 (c 55) (as amended by Children Act 1989 (c 41), s 108, Sch 13, para 64 and Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children (International Obligations) (England and Wales and Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1898), reg 17, Sch 1, para 5), ss 2(3), 3(1)[2]
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Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003, art 8(1)[3]