[2025] EWHC 508 (Fam)

These care proceedings concern two children, A, aged 9, and B, aged 7. The children were repatriated to this country from Country D on 5 April 2022. They were placed in the care of a local authority and have remained living with foster carers since that date.

Subsequently, the paternal grandparents, Mr and Mrs C, became aware that their grandchildren were in this country and in the care of a local authority. They made known their desire to care for the children in their home country of Country E.

On 12 February 2025, I made a special guardianship order in favour of the grandparents in respect of A and B. The order was made (a) to grant parental responsibility for the children to the grandparents to secure their placement within them and (b) to enable the grandparents to begin the process of applying for A and B to become citizens of Country E. The plan is for the children to live there with the grandparents surrounded by members of their wider paternal family.

The special guardianship order was made with the consent of all parties, namely the local authority, the grandparents and the guardian. The purpose of this judgment is to set out the history of the proceedings and the circumstances in which it was argued that the children should be placed in the care of the grandparents, which will, hopefully, assist them in their citizenship application for the children.

I wish to record my gratitude for the assistance I have received from all the parties in the conduct of these proceedings and to express my special gratitude to the Government of Country E for the assistance which it has given to this court.