International Family Law

In a world where people travel, work and live in many different countries, our international family law team increasingly encounter issues with international angles when couples separate. As experienced international family lawyers, we are adept at dealing with financial settlements where some or all assets may be located overseas.

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Meet the team

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A member of our Family Law team

Our international experience

A number of our offices are in cities where there is an ‘international community’, with couples often moving to other countries for a variety of reasons, but typically education or work. We also have extensive experience of advising parents who are separating where one may wish to relocate overseas with their children, but the other parent does not agree.

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Our experience with international finances

Often, we help individuals living in cities such as Cambridge, Oxford or London who have moved from another country for work or education. Along the way they have acquired assets, such as homes or pensions in other countries, that need to be dealt with when considering a financial settlement. Often this involves the valuation of such assets, the tax implications of any changes in ownership and sometimes even locating them. We work with specialist accountants, valuers and agencies to assist in this.

We also assist with couples who have divorced in another country but not yet reached a financial settlement, and those who are based overseas but whose spouses have commenced court proceedings in the UK.

Arrangements for children

 

Arrangements for children can be complicated, and sometimes more so when one parent wants to live in another country. A child cannot be relocated without the permission of both parents and in circumstances where those parents cannot agree future arrangements for the children, an application to court will need to be made.

This will include a detailed assessment of any proposed living arrangements both overseas and those if the children remain in England and Wales. These proceedings are often complex, fraught with emotion and sometimes urgent, if there is a possibility of abduction. Our team of experts have considerable experience and will be able to guide you from the beginning as to how best to navigate this complicated area of law.

Services from our Family Law team

Recognition of our work

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

Legal 500 2026 – Top Tier Firm

The British Family Law Awards 2024 Finalist – Family Law Team of The Year

The British Family Law Awards 2024 Finalist – Family Law Team of The Year
The Times Best Law Firms 2026

The Times Best Law Firms 2026

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Hear what our clients say about us

You’ve been incredibly helpful throughout this whole process and I can’t thank you enough.

Client testimonial Family law

I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you and the wider team at HCR for your support and guidance over the past 18 months. In particular, James and Emily, who have been incredibly reassuring throughout what has been a very stressful and upsetting time in my life. I would not hesitate to recommend their services to anyone facing a similar situation.

Client testimonial Family law

Thank you for all that you have done for me also to your brilliant team. Especially Amy, thank you for your patience in this testing time for me.

Client testimonial Family law

Thank you so much for all your support through all of this. This has been the hardest time of my life and you have always been brilliant and professional at your job. You made me feel more comfortable with everything that went on.

Client testimonial Child and Parent Law

I can’t thank James Osborne and Lauren Powell-Bateson enough for the support they have given me during one of the most difficult times in my life. Their professionalism, compassion, and dedication have been truly outstanding from start to finish.

They guided me through every step with clear advice, patience, and genuine care, always making me feel supported and understood. Having solicitors who are not only incredibly knowledgeable but also kind and approachable made such a difference during a very challenging time. If you are looking for a family law solicitor, I would highly recommend James Osborne and Lauren Powell-Bateson. They have been absolutely fantastic.

Client testimonial Ms J G – Family Law

Thank you so much for you help and support in the preparation and at the hearing. I am so pleased with the order that we secured. It’s a huge relief.

Client testimonial Family law

I want to say a huge thank you to you and your team. You’ve been fantastic and have fully supported me and my children through this difficult journey. I can’t really thank you enough.
It’s great to know that you’re there too, if anything crops up in the future.

Client testimonial Family law

Amy’s help in this matter has been much appreciated and she made the process very smooth.

Client testimonial Family law

Thank you so much for the way in which this matter has been handled. You were so quick to get to grips with what is a complex case and we felt not only that the matter was in good hand professionally, with a clear direction, but that we were also listened to and supported on a personal level.

Client testimonial Family law

Thankyou so much for working on this cohabitation agreement for me, I always appreciate the extra effort you make.

Client testimonial Cohabitation agreement

At every step, Gweni was clear in her communication, strong willed but also empathetic when the stress of the process was a lot to deal with. I will always be grateful for Gweni’s (and her team’s) drive to ensure a positive outcome in the proceedings. A credit to her company and her profession.

Client testimonial Family Law

During what was without doubt the most difficult time of my life Gweni and her team provided a first class service in every aspect. Her knowledge, professionalism, advice and tenacity to stand up to the other sides demands was exemplary.

Client testimonial Family Law

How can we help you?

Frequently Asked Questions

An international family lawyer advises on family law matters with a cross border element, including divorce, financial settlements, and children’s arrangements where one or both parties have connections to another country. This covers determining which country’s courts have jurisdiction, dealing with assets held overseas, and advising on how orders made in one jurisdiction may be recognised and enforced elsewhere, ensuring your case is handled with the right international expertise from the outset.

International family law involves complex questions around jurisdiction, recognition of foreign orders, and conflicting legal systems that a general family solicitor may not regularly encounter. Choosing the wrong jurisdiction, or acting too slowly, can significantly affect the outcome of a divorce or financial settlement. Specialist advice ensures these issues are identified early, protecting your position before decisions become difficult or costly to reverse later in the process.

This is treated as a matter of urgency. An international child abduction lawyer can act quickly to invoke the Hague Convention, where applicable, to seek the return of your children to their home country. Speed is critical in these cases, so it’s important to seek specialist legal advice as soon as possible, since delays can significantly affect the available legal options and the likelihood of a swift resolution.

This depends on factors such as your habitual residence, nationality, and where your spouse is based, making jurisdiction one of the most important early questions in any cross border case. An international family lawyer can assess which jurisdiction is likely to apply and advise on the practical implications, since the laws and likely financial outcomes can vary significantly between countries.