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Rapid rise in global family disputes Rapid rise in global family disputes
(about 9 hours later)
The number of cross-border family legal disputes referred to a UK judge who offers global assistance in such cases has quadrupled in just four years. The number of international family legal disputes, in which UK courts intervene, has quadrupled in four years, a new report has shown.
The Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales handled 253 cases in 2012, up from 65 in 2008. A total of 253 cases were handled in 2012 by the Office of the Head of International Family Justice for England and Wales, up from 65 in 2008.
It says it is dealing with a wider range of issues - including child abduction, relocation, inter-country adoption and forced marriages. Its head, Lord Justice Thorpe, said it was dealing with child abduction, adoption and forced marriage.
Lord Justice Thorpe says it is because there are more international families. He said it was due to an increase in "international family cases".
The Office of the Head of International Family Justice describes itself as a "helpdesk", offering advice to judges and lawyers acting in international disputes, as well as negotiating with judges in other countries. The Office offers advice to judges and lawyers acting in international disputes, as well as negotiating with judges in other countries.
In the report - which Lord Justice Thorpe has co-written with Edward Bennett, the lawyer who supports him - he said the rise in requests for help was down to two factors. Lord Justice Thorpe, who co-wrote the report with lawyer Edward Bennett, said the rise in requests for help was down to the increasing number of international family cases coming before the courts and the increasing awareness of the Office.
"The first is the ever increasing number of international family cases coming before the courts, necessitating assistance from an overseas judge or vice versa," he said. He said co-operation between countries on family law was needed due to "globalisation, increasing movement of persons across borders, and the ever rising number of family units which are truly international".
"The second is the increasing awareness amongst judges and practitioners throughout the world of the service that the Office provides and the benefits it can bring." One mother who took her children to France to prevent them from being taken into care was mentioned in the report.
Lord Justice Thorpe said co-operation between countries on family law was needed due to "globalisation, increasing movement of persons across borders, and the ever rising number of family units which are truly international". The family was found living on a waterlogged caravan site, were not attending school, were not registered with a doctor and the mother had no income.
In 2012, 127 cases involved European countries; 39 the Middle East and Asia; 35 the Caribbean, north, central and south America; 26 Africa and 15 Australia and New Zealand. Following the Office's intervention, French social services stepped in and the children were safely returned, the report says.
In another case, the Office obtained the assurances of the Cypriot attorney general that a woman agreeing to return from Britain to Cyprus with her child would not be prosecuted by the Cypriot authorities.
In 2012, 127 cases involved European countries; 39 the Middle East and Asia; 35 the Caribbean, north, central and south America; 26 Africa and 15 Australia and New Zealand - according to the report.
A total of 11 requests were not counted as they either did not relate to an international matter or just sought generic advice.A total of 11 requests were not counted as they either did not relate to an international matter or just sought generic advice.
The country with the highest number of cases was Poland, with 14, followed by Pakistan (13) and Spain (12).The country with the highest number of cases was Poland, with 14, followed by Pakistan (13) and Spain (12).
The report includes the case of a mother who had taken her children to France to prevent them from being taken into care.
They were found living on a waterlogged caravan site, were not attending school, were not registered with a doctor and the mother had no income.
In another case, the Office obtained the assurances of the Cypriot attorney general that a woman agreeing to return from Britain to Cyprus with her child would not be prosecuted by the Cypriot authorities.
Lord Justice Thorpe said: "We acknowledge, as would all individuals concerned or involved with family justice, the additional emotional distress that is caused to any family by the inclusion of an international dimension.Lord Justice Thorpe said: "We acknowledge, as would all individuals concerned or involved with family justice, the additional emotional distress that is caused to any family by the inclusion of an international dimension.
"It is incumbent upon anyone who works in such a sensitive area to try and find ways of mitigating such stress, to the extent that it is possible to do so.""It is incumbent upon anyone who works in such a sensitive area to try and find ways of mitigating such stress, to the extent that it is possible to do so."