In the case of Re (A Child: Return Order to Lithuania) [2026] EWHC 1050 (Fam) (01 May 2026), where we acted for the father, the team achieved an order for the return of a six‑year‑old child to Lithuania under the 1980 Hague Convention, overcoming multiple legal and factual challenges raised by the mother, as the case was fiercely contested.
The father’s application, issued in January 2026, arose after the mother relocated their son from Lithuania to the UK in May 2025 without his knowledge or consent. Acting promptly upon his release from prison in France, the father initiated proceedings under the 1980 Hague Convention, an international regime designed to secure the swift return of children wrongfully removed across contracting states.
The mother advanced multiple defences, including that the child had always been habitually resident in the UK, that he was now settled in the UK, and that returning him to Lithuania would expose him to harm due to serious allegations of domestic abuse raised by her.
The central issue was where the child was 'habitually resident' at the time of the removal—a fact-sensitive question requiring a full analysis of the child’s life.
The father’s solicitor, Jean Lee, assembled a compelling body of evidence demonstrating that Lithuania—not the UK—was the true centre of the child’s life. The Judge described this evidence as “far more cogent and compelling” than the mother’s case, ultimately finding that the child was habitually resident in Lithuania at the relevant time. This careful preparation enabled the court to make a decisive finding in the father's favour.
Through decisive action and meticulous preparation, the team delivered a successful outcome in a challenging, high-stakes international dispute. Importantly, the judgment has been published (subject to strict anonymity), providing a clear, authoritative account of the case and the approach taken, offering wider recognition of the legal strategy deployed.