To stop my ex taking children out the UK

[Alicew00]

I know he'll be planning to take them to Dubai very soon but I don't want them to go.
My 2 children of teenage years decided to live with their dad a month ago and ever since, my ex has turned nasty towards me. He hasn't been in their life until last year. He always let them down and made them cry, and told his many gfs that he picks and chooses when he sees them. Maybe once or twice a year.
He suddenly won't let them near my partner of 2 years because he wants them to be Muslim. But I am not Muslim so they should be able to choose.
He's also started telling them that I pushed him away from the relationship and called the police on him when they were a baby. But I he's the one who called them on me even though he shoved me up stairs while pregnant and even forced himself on me while I still had stitches in after giving birth.
And he made me very scared in my own home. Yet he's telling everyone these lies.
He also called social services just because my partner drinks but he's not violent at all and has stopped since all this happened. It's like he's trying to win a game or something that only he started. I definitely don't want him taking them away from the UK.

What are their ages? Do they want to go to dubai? Do you have their passports?

Who has their passports?

They don't have a passport but I reckon he'll try to apply for one they're 13 and 14

The UAE is not a signatory to the Hague convention on child abduction, so fuck no.

I've seen it suggested on here that if they don't have passports that you should apply for them and then keep them safe at your house (or even a family members house).

Yes you should apply for the passports first and keep them in your house.

I would also apply to the court for a residence order and prohibited steps. If he’s as manipulative as you describe, and wasn’t in their lives until recently, their choice isn’t the be all and end all just because they are teens.

Teens can’t make all of their own decisions.

You need legal advice.

FWIW I agree with you and wouldn’t want them to be taken to Dubai either, but their ages will be a contributing factor in terms of what the courts will allow, plus if they have turned against you and gone to live with their dad stopping them from going is likely to do your relationship with them more harm than good, even if your decision is made with the right intentions.

I would find a solicitor who has more experience in this area, because a lot of the comments here will be driven by opinion and emotion.

I wouldn't be comfortable with the children going given the way your ex is acting. If they have no passports I would be applying for them myself - today.

Teens can’t make all of their own decisions. no they can’t, in theory. But in terms of residency at least their thoughts and feelings will very much be given precedence.

Plus at 13 and 14 it will be impossible to make them go and live with the OP, regardless of any court order.

Prohibited steps is another matter but the OP needs legal advice for that.

As teenagers the courts would (rightly or wrongly) take their wishes into consideration, and as they've chosen to live with him, they'd presumably want to go on holiday with him too.
As the mother, you have automatic parental responsibility but as he is the parent they live with, it would be hard for you to refuse permission in all honesty.
You are probably best off speaking to a solicitor if you want to put the wheels in motion, he'd have to ask your permission to take them abroad anyway, but could go to court himself claiming any refusal you make is out of spite.
Is their a record (police/solicitor) of the domestic violence? Irrespective of the whys and wherefores, the fact that you allowed them to go and live with him despite him not being around for many years will make any objection you want to make to him taking them abroad less likely to succeed.
Have social services contacted you about his concerns about your partner?
Speak to a solicitor.

*there

You need to speak to a solicitor as you will very likely need to get a court order in place.

At their ages they can decide who they want to live with but the problem with him taking them to Dubai is that even if they wanted to return, he can forbid them from doing so and no Dubai court is going to rule against him. I'd definitely fight for him not to take them out of the country at all.

Are your children boys or girls? Either way, I would absolutely not allow him to take them to the UAE - you will never see them again. Get a Prohibited Steps Order which will stop him from taking them out of the country, and if you can possibly get passports for them sooner than he can, do that.

Why have your children chosen to go and live with their dad if he makes them cry? Have you spoken to them since they went?

Is he taking them to Dubai on holiday or do you think to live? Or will he lie about that?

If they have chosen to live with him (which seems odd, did he pressure them?), he can take them on holiday but needs your permission if it is overseas.
Apply for passports today. Seek legal advice straight after.

Is he a UEA citizen?
Or British?

Does he have family or connections or the means to live in a non-Hague Convention country?

Why did they want to live with him?

Do they want to be Muslim?