Sophie Turner sues Joe Jonas for return of their kids to UK amid divorce

May 2024 · 5 minute read

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Sophie Turner has accused estranged husband Joe Jonas of refusing to let their two young daughters return to their “forever home” in England – as the celebrity couple’s divorce battle heats up, a bombshell lawsuit filed in New York Thursday shows.

The “Game of Thrones” star claims she was blindsided by the divorce, and alleges the Jonas Brothers singer is now keeping hold of their kids’ passports — despite previously agreeing they would raise the girls, aged 3 and 1, in the UK, according to the Manhattan federal court suit.

The legal action comes just weeks after Jonas, 34, sued Turner, 27, for divorce after four years of marriage – a move the actress claims she only found out about through news reports, the filing states.

In the months prior to the shock split, Turner and Jonas – who married in May 2019 — had relocated their family to the UK and had been shopping around for their “forever home,” the suit states.

As they laid the groundwork for their new life, they put up their Miami property on the market, shipped their children’s belongings and had even “exchanged contracts with the sellers” of a home in Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire, England, according to the filing.

“The parties were both excited for the family’s move to England” in April, the court papers state.

Turner claims the then-couple had agreed “with some hesitation” that Jonas would take the girls with him on tour in August given the mom-of-two was filming a new project, a TV series called “Joan,” in the UK.

Joe Jonas was seen with Sophie Turner and their daughter in 2021 in NYC. SplashNews.com

“The children would then at least be able to spend some time during the day with one of their parents until the Mother finished her filming commitments,” the filing states, adding it was a “temporary arrangement.”

They allegedly agreed that Turner would come to the Big Apple in September to collect their daughters after filming wrapped.

But when the actress arrived on Sept. 17 after their marriage “very suddenly” imploded, Jonas allegedly wouldn’t let the kids leave, the suit claims.

“The Father has prevented the children’s return to England, which is a breach of the Mother’s rights of custody under English law, England being the children’s habitual residence,” the suit says.

“The Father has possession of the children’s passports. He refuses to return the passports to the Mother and refuses to send the children home to England with the Mother.”

Sophie Turner is suing her estranged husband, Joe Jonas, to allow their two young kids to return to her “forever home” in England, according to court papers. BrosNYC / BACKGRID

Turner has also accused her ex of lying in his Sept. 5 divorce filing by claiming the children had lived in Florida for the past six months.

“The children are fully involved and integrated in all aspects of daily and cultural life in England. The children have extended family and friends in England,” Turner’s suit states.

“The children receive routine medical care and dental care in England. The older child attends school in England. Both children participate in extracurricular activities, playdates, and cultural activities in England.”

The estranged couple’s children, ages 3 and 1, are being wrongfully retained in New York City, the lawsuit alleges. BACKGRID

Turner listed off a slew of places the family have rented around the world since Sept. 2022 – including New York, Italy, London and Florida, and noted she’s now “temporarily” staying with her daughters at a five-star Manhattan hotel.

She plans to file a similar lawsuit in the UK.

“Sophie is making this claim only to move the divorce proceedings to the UK and to remove the children from the U.S. permanently,” a rep for Jonas said in a statement to The Post Thursday.

The couple has filed for divorce after being married for four years. AFP via Getty Images

The Florida court where Jonas filed for divorce has already ruled that neither parents can relocate the kids, an order that Turner was given on Sept. 6, the spokesperson said.

The pair “had a cordial meeting” in New York City this past Sunday and Jonas thought “they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup,” according to the statement.

But less than a day later, Turner changed her tune and “demanded” the kids’ passports so she could immediately take them to England – a move that would violate the Florida court order, the rep claimed.

Jonas wants to raise the kids with Turner and would agree to the kids being raised in both countries, his spokesperson said.

Turner’s petition specifies that the girls have dual US and UK citizenship.

The rep said that Turner’s use of federal international child abduction laws to file her suit is misleading.

“The children were not abducted,” the statement states, adding that “[Jonas’] wish is that Sophie reconsider her harsh legal position and move forward in a more constructive and private manner

“His only concern is the well-being of his children.”

Reps for Turner did not return a request for comment.

The stars started dating back in 2016 and wed in a Las Vegas ceremony three years later.

They welcomed their daughter, Willa, in July 2020 and a second daughter, whose name they have not disclosed, two years later. 

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