Transnational Marriage Abandonment as Domestic Abuse
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Serena Sandhu
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Stranded abroad: transnational marriage abandonment recognised as domestic abuse
The UK courts have now formally recognised transnational marriage abandonment (TMA) as a form of coercive control, a category of domestic abuse defined in the Domestic Abuse Act 2021.
TMA occurs when one spouse deliberately leaves their partner, and sometimes their children, stranded overseas. This form of abuse often begins under the guise of a family holiday or visit abroad. Once overseas, victims find their passports, travel documents, and financial resources confiscated, leaving them isolated, powerless, and trapped thousands of miles from home with no means of return.
While anyone can be affected, research and case reports show that women and children from immigrant and diaspora communities are disproportionately targeted. Victims often face multiple barriers, including language, cultural expectations, and lack of knowledge about UK legal protections. By abandoning their partner abroad, perpetrators not only exert control but also sever victims’ access to the protection of the UK courts and support services.
The case of RT v GT [2025] EWHC 2670 (Fam)
A recent High Court decision, RT v GT [2025] EWHC 2670 (Fam) illustrates how easily a vulnerable spouse can be deceived and stranded overseas under the guise of a family trip.
The case concerned a Moroccan wife and a husband who held Moroccan, French, and British nationality. The couple married in Morocco in 2022, and their son, Baby A, was born in May 2024. Baby A holds a British passport. In December 2024, the family travelled to Morocco on one-way tickets. The wife believed it was a family holiday. Shortly after arriving, the husband took Baby A’s passport and left it with his mother.
On 26 December 2024, the husband secretly issued divorce proceedings in Morocco. Four days later, he returned to England, leaving his wife and baby behind. When the wife’s UK visa expired on 4 January 2025, she was effectively trapped abroad and unable to return to England.
Wardship proceedings
In March 2025, Baby A was made a ward of court, and a fact-finding hearing was held in the course of the wardship proceedings. A joint immigration expert advised that the most appropriate route for the mother to return to England was to apply for indefinite leave to enter as a victim of transnational abandonment.
The mother maintained that she and her baby had been stranded and had never intended to relocate to Morocco. She also alleged coercive and financial control, which the husband denied. He claimed they had discussed divorce, but the wife stated she only learned of it when unexpectedly served with papers on 13 January 2025.
The judge found that the husband had exploited his wife’s vulnerability and stranded her in Morocco. Specifically:
- The husband had lied about renewing the wife’s visa, knowing it would expire.
- The husband withheld Baby A’s passport to prevent their return.
- The husband filed for divorce in secret, pretending nothing was wrong.
- The husband continued to tell his wife he loved her, even after initiating the divorce, he took her out for dinner and said nothing about the divorce petition.
Communications between the couple before the trip showed the appearance of a normal, loving relationship, and the wife’s shock on learning of the divorce was genuine. The judge concluded that she and Baby A had been intentionally stranded.
Given that baby A was habitually resident in England and that he and his mother had been stranded in Morocco, the court found that all three parties were habitually resident here. This means the Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is able to deal with the wife’s application for child support.
Conclusion
This case reinforces that TMA is a recognised form of domestic abuse under Practice Direction 12J of the Family Procedure Rules 2010 and stranding a partner abroad is not merely abandonment, it is a calculated act of control, deception, and isolation. It shows that the English courts will not allow perpetrators to evade responsibility by stranding spouses and children abroad. Victims in these situations can seek legal protection, child maintenance, and immigration relief including indefinite leave to enter or remain as victims of domestic abuse or abandonment.
How to seek help
No one should face isolation or hardship abroad because of a partner’s manipulation. Help is available, and the law is evolving to protect victims.
If you or someone you know is at risk of being stranded abroad by a spouse or partner:
- Seek urgent legal advice, particularly from a solicitor experienced in family and immigration law.
- Contact the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 for confidential support.
- Reach out to the Forced Marriage Unit if coercion or deception was involved in travel abroad.
- Seek help from British embassies or consulates to return to the UK.
- You may be eligible to apply for immigration protection as a victim of transnational marriage abandonment.
How we can help
Transnational marriage abandonment is not just a personal betrayal—it is a recognised form of domestic abuse. If you or someone you know has been stranded abroad by a partner, you are not alone, and you have rights. Serena Sandhu, Senior Associate at Osbornes Law, is highly experienced in handling complex cases involving abandoned spouses and in challenging related applications. If you require further advice or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us by:
- Filling in our online enquiry form; or
- Calling us on 020 7485 8811
Related reading: UK Court Recognizes Stranding in Complex Child Abduction Appeal
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