Understanding the rise in global family disputes

The number of international family legal disputes dealt with in the UK has quadrupled within the last four years. The majority of these cases are attributed to a rise in child abduction, adoption and forced marriage. In addition to this there has been a sharp rise in legal disputes, 40% in 2013, between parents living in different countries.

Lord Justice Thorpe, who co-wrote an annual report on the subject, states that the number was set to continue to rise due to the “globalisation, increasing movement of persons across borders, and the ever rising number of family units which are truly international.”

It is now easier than ever to traverse the globe, which no doubt plays a large role in many of the cases covered in this report. As a result of globalisation there has been a mix of cultures and ideals, which inevitably leads to dispute.

For example, within the UK there has been an increase in young women being taken to Islamic countries against their will or that of their mother’s in order for them to marry older males. This is not isolated to one particular race or religion, but it is representative of the problems associated with globalisation.

One of the cases covered within the report included that of a mother who had taken her children to France in order to avoid them being taken into care. However, they were then found living on a waterlogged caravan site and had not been attending school of any kind.

When it comes to finding legal advice for global family disputes, one of the most difficult decisions is how to decide under which country’s jurisdiction any legal action should take place. Finding a specialist lawyer to deal with your case will ensure they have your best interests at heart and will be able to advise you on this and many other issues.