Divorce and Custody Dispute between Jonas and Turner Nears Resolution
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner have taken steps toward resolving the federal lawsuit filed by Sophie Turner, which demanded the return of their two young daughters to her home country, England, amidst their ongoing divorce proceedings.
In a recent court filing on October 10th, attorneys representing Joe Jonas, the Jonas Brothers singer, and Sophie Turner, known for her role in Game of Thrones, announced that they have made significant progress during mediation discussions. They expressed optimism that an amicable resolution to all their outstanding issues is on the horizon.
The lawsuit initiated by Sophie Turner was filed last month in Manhattan federal court. It alleged that Joe Jonas was withholding the passports of their children, obstructing their planned relocation to the UK, which had been intended as their permanent residence. The lawsuit cited international treaties pertaining to child abduction, marking a significant escalation in the divorce case initially filed by Joe Jonas in Miami a few weeks prior.
The exact scope of the pending agreement mentioned in the recent court filing remains unclear. It is uncertain whether this agreement will fully resolve the divorce case in Florida or specifically address the complex matter of international custody raised by Sophie Turner's lawsuit. As of now, there is no documentation indicating a settlement deal has been presented to the Miami court. Representatives for both parties have refrained from offering comments on the matter.
Joe Jonas filed for divorce in Miami on September 5th, citing that "the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken" after four years of marriage. In response to this unexpected divorce filing, Sophie Turner mentioned in her own court filings that Joe Jonas had initiated the divorce proceedings suddenly, following an argument that took place on the singer's birthday on August 15th. The day after Joe Jonas filed for divorce, the couple jointly released a statement confirming their separation.
On September 15th, it was Sophie Turner's turn to file her own case. In a petition submitted in a New York federal court, she asserted that the couple had permanently relocated to England in March, with prior plans for the children to return with her in September. However, she claimed that Joe Jonas "refuses to return the passports to the Mother and refuses to send the children home to England with the Mother."
The filing specifically referenced the Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, an international treaty that both the United States and the United Kingdom have signed. Sophie Turner contended that Joe Jonas' actions amounted to "wrongful retention" of their children under the terms of this treaty.
Her lawyers argued, "The Father’s retention of the children in the United States from England is therefore wrongful under the Hague Convention because the Father has retained the children from their habitual residence of England, in breach of the Mother’s rights of custody to the children under English law, which the Mother was exercising at the time of the retention."
Representatives for Joe Jonas have steadfastly denied the allegations raised in Sophie Turner's lawsuit.