A message about a holiday, a new job abroad or a possible move can land like a bomb. Your mind may go straight to the worst outcome. The most useful response is to separate what you know from what you fear, then get the right help quickly if there is a real risk.
Important: This is general information, not legal advice. Family-court outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Speak to a qualified legal adviser for advice about your situation.
A holiday, relocation and immediate risk are different
A short agreed holiday, a proposed permanent move and evidence that a child may be taken abroad without permission are not the same situation. They need different responses. Treating a routine trip as abduction can inflame matters. Treating a credible immediate risk as a routine argument can leave you too late.
Get the facts
- Where is the child proposed to go?
- Is this a holiday, a temporary stay or a permanent relocation?
- What are the dates and return arrangements?
- Who has parental responsibility?
- Is there a child arrangements order, prohibited steps order or other court order?
- What evidence suggests an immediate risk, if any?
Write down what you have been told and save relevant original messages. Do not interrogate your child, contact an employer or school inappropriately, hide a passport or threaten the other parent.
The legal starting point
GOV.UK says you normally need permission from everyone with parental responsibility, or a court, to take a child abroad. It also notes a limited exception for some people named in a child arrangements order as the person with whom a child lives. The specific order and the facts matter.
A permanent relocation is more complex than a holiday. It can affect school, housing, immigration, contact and a child’s relationship with both sides of the family. Get independent legal advice rather than relying on a general article.
If the move is proposed rather than imminent
Keep the conversation calm and ask for a clear proposal. What would the child’s living arrangements, school, contact, travel and cost arrangements look like? A court will need practical information, not simply two competing feelings.
Mediation may help with a proposed move where it is safe and suitable. A solicitor can advise whether a specific issue order or prohibited steps order is relevant. Do not threaten to withhold your child or make unilateral plans.
If you believe there is an immediate risk
Get urgent legal advice and contact the police if you believe a child is about to be taken abroad without the required permission. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999. Explain the facts you have, any travel details, existing orders and why you believe the risk is immediate.
Do not use this guidance to try to stop a lawful trip or persuade someone to disregard an order. It is a route to appropriate professional help.
Look after the child in front of you
Avoid discussing adult legal issues with your child or asking them to choose sides. Keep routines steady where you can. If they ask questions, give age-appropriate reassurance without making promises you cannot keep.
Read the official GOV.UK travel-permission guidance, then read our guide to child arrangements and family court for the wider family-court process.
Related support
Start with our guide to child arrangements and family court. Read the article on permission to take a child abroad and the child arrangements orders guide.
Last checked 14 September 2026. Rules, forms, fees and processes can change.
Important: This is general information, not legal advice. Family-court outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Speak to a qualified legal adviser for advice about your situation.
Related articles in this hub
- A Dad’s Guide to Child Arrangements and Family Court in England and Wales
- Can My Ex Take My Child Abroad Without My Permission?
- Child Arrangements Orders Explained Without Legal Jargon
Last checked: 14 September 2026. This information is for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have different systems.
Official sources: GOV.UK: permission to take a child abroad and GOV.UK: child-arrangements orders.
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