Ms. Macfadyen is a Nigerian national. She entered the U.S. in October 2001 on a B-2 visitor visa, overstayed it, was placed in removal proceedings in January 2003, filed for asylum, had her asylum application denied, and was ordered removed to Nigeria in February 2006. During removal proceedings, … Read More about Case Update (9 Sept 2022): Macfadyen v. DHS; Nigerian divorce documents insufficient to demonstrate Nigerian divorce occurred
Case Update (26 July 2022): Olson v. Olson; examination of UIFSA in determining jurisdiction to modify a foreign spousal support order
The parties, U.S. citizens, were married in 1998 in Pennsylvania, and later moved to the UK. On December 16, 2009, a court in the UK dissolved their marriage, and incorporated their November 19, 2009 consent order into its final judgment. The consent order was a separation agreement, which divided … Read More about Case Update (26 July 2022): Olson v. Olson; examination of UIFSA in determining jurisdiction to modify a foreign spousal support order
Case Update (19 Jan 2022): Jaffal v. Dir Newark NJ Field Office; derivative U.S. citizenship; parent’s “legal separation in a foreign country”
We have seen a variety of U.S. immigration cases where an individual is denied U.S. citizenship because a prerequisite to their application was someone's valid divorce. For example, see the recent case of Mr. Adjei whose wife was not considered legally divorced from her first husband under … Read More about Case Update (19 Jan 2022): Jaffal v. Dir Newark NJ Field Office; derivative U.S. citizenship; parent’s “legal separation in a foreign country”
Case Update (2021): In re Marriage of BK & LS; international relocation
In an unpublished opinion on April 16, 2021, the California Court of Appeal affirmed a Superior Court order permitting a mother to relocate her two minor children to Hungary. The order had a variety of "measures" in it that were intended to ensure the California order's enforcement. The … Read More about Case Update (2021): In re Marriage of BK & LS; international relocation
Case Update (2021): Adjei v. Mayorkas; recognition of a foreign divorce decree
Mr. Adjei and the U.S. government filed cross motions for summary judgment in a recent case before the U.S. District Court for the EDVa. On March 23, 2021, the court granted the U.S. government's motion for summary judgment, but denied Mr. Adjei's. This case revolves around USCIS's denial of … Read More about Case Update (2021): Adjei v. Mayorkas; recognition of a foreign divorce decree
Case Update (2021): Iqtaifan v. Hagerty; writ of mandamus, recognition of foreign divorce decree
The Kentucky Supreme Court addressed a Husband's request for a writ of mandamus to compel his family court judge, Judge Hagerty, to dismiss his Wife's petition for a divorce because he had already secured a divorce in Jordan. For purposes of this blog, I am going to skip over the merits of the writ … Read More about Case Update (2021): Iqtaifan v. Hagerty; writ of mandamus, recognition of foreign divorce decree
Case Update (2020): Jayagaran v. Jayagaran; improper service of process, no due process, refuse to recognize foreign divorce decree as a matter of comity
In the case of Glory and Sunita Jayagaran, the Washington Court of Appeals refused to recognize an Indian divorce decree because the Husband did not properly serve his Wife, thereby denying her due process. The couple lived approximately 18 years, having 3 children, in Washington State. … Read More about Case Update (2020): Jayagaran v. Jayagaran; improper service of process, no due process, refuse to recognize foreign divorce decree as a matter of comity
Case Update (2020): Hedges v. Hedges; Registration, recognition and enforcement of foreign Polish child support order for adult disabled children; minimum due process
On December 1, 2020, the Court of Appeals of the State of Washington, Division II, affirmed a Superior Court order that had the effect of refusing to recognize a Polish child support order.David and Eva Hedges are parents to two children. The Hedges divorced in Arizona, where they resolved … Read More about Case Update (2020): Hedges v. Hedges; Registration, recognition and enforcement of foreign Polish child support order for adult disabled children; minimum due process
Case Update (2020): Jaffal v. Thompson; recognition of a foreign unilateral divorce for purposes of a U.S. citizenship application
Mr. Imad Jaffal sues the U.S. government for citizenship (Jaffal v. Thompson). The underlying issue for whether Jaffal can be granted citizenship revolves around his parents' divorce, which occurred in Jordan. Apparently, his father obtained a unilateral divorce from his mother in … Read More about Case Update (2020): Jaffal v. Thompson; recognition of a foreign unilateral divorce for purposes of a U.S. citizenship application
Case Update (2020): Trott v. Trott; Hague Abduction Convention, comity to a Hague order from foreign jurisdiction
In the case of Trott v. Trott, the Eastern District of New York granted a father's petition to have his two daughters returned to Bermuda.The parties are parents to two daughters. Their eldest child is not the father's biological daughter, but was raised as his daughter. The youngest is … Read More about Case Update (2020): Trott v. Trott; Hague Abduction Convention, comity to a Hague order from foreign jurisdiction
Case Update (2020): Olarinde v. Korede; UCCJEA home state, temporary absence due to child abduction
The Maryland Court of Special Appeals issued an unreported opinion in the case of Olarinde v. Korede on August 20, 2020. In the opinion, the court examined subject matter jurisdiction and whether Maryland was the "home state" of the parties' children so that Maryland could issue its initial … Read More about Case Update (2020): Olarinde v. Korede; UCCJEA home state, temporary absence due to child abduction
Case Update (2020): Vicario v. Blanch; Simultaneous divorce proceedings, comity
On August 19, 2020, the Third District Court of Appeal for the State of Florida, in Vicario v. Blanch, reversed the trial court's order staying a dissolution proceeding in lieu of a dissolution proceeding in Spain. The parties have a complicated timeline of court filings in both … Read More about Case Update (2020): Vicario v. Blanch; Simultaneous divorce proceedings, comity