Sophie Turner is suing estranged husband Joe Jonas in a bid for their two daughters to return to England, according to legal documents obtained by Page Six.
The former couple confirmed their split to fans earlier this month, saying in a joint statement: "After four wonderful years of marriage we have mutually decided to amicably end our marriage.
"There are many speculative narratives as to why but, truly this is a united decision and we sincerely hope that everyone can respect our wishes for privacy for us and our children.”
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Jonas filed for divorce at Miami Dade County Court on Tuesday 5 September, with the petition saying 'the marriage between the parties is irretrievably broken'.
It also stated that while their children have been living with Jonas in Miami and other places most recently, 'it is in the best interests of the minor children that the parties have shared parental responsibility'.
Page Six said Turner is now suing Jonas for the return of their two children.
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The outlet said the actor filed the lawsuit in a Manhattan court on Thursday, requesting to secure 'the immediate return of children wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained'.
She claims the 'wrongful retention' began on 20 September, saying she and Jonas agreed over the Christmas period in 2022 that they would commit to England as their 'forever home'.
It was here that they planned to start looking for schools for their eldest daughter Willa, with the documents stating: “The parties were both excited for the family’s move to England."
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The lawsuit says the family relocated from Miami to England on 10 April 2023, with Turner ready to start filming ITV mini-series Joan while Jonas began touring with his band The Jonas Brothers.
Two weeks after Jonas filing for divorce, the two met up to discuss the next steps, with Turner claiming in the documents that she 'reiterated' their previous plan for the children to move to England.
However, she has claimed Jonas has been withholding their daughter's passports, with the lawsuit saying: “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.”
A spokesperson for Jonas told UNILAD: "After multiple conversations with Sophie, Joe initiated divorce proceedings in Florida, as Florida is the appropriate jurisdiction for the case. Sophie was aware that Joe was going to file for divorce.
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"The Florida Court has already entered an order that restricts both parents from relocating the children. Sophie was served with this order on September 6, 2023, more than two weeks ago.
“Joe and Sophie had a cordial meeting this past Sunday in New York, when Sophie came to New York to be with the kids. They have been with her since that meeting. Joe’s impression of the meeting was that they had reached an understanding that they would work together towards an amicable co-parenting setup.
“Less than 24 hours later, Sophie advised that she wanted to take the children permanently to the UK.
"Thereafter, she demanded via this filing that Joe hand over the children’s passports so that she could take them out of the country immediately. If he complies, Joe will be in violation of the Florida Court order."
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It continued: “Joe is seeking shared parenting with the kids so that they are raised by both their mother and father, and is of course also okay with the kids being raised both in the U.S. and the UK. The children were born in the U.S. and have spent the vast majority of their lives in the U.S. They are American citizens.
“This is an unfortunate legal disagreement about a marriage that is sadly ending. When language like “abduction” is used, it is misleading at best, and a serious abuse of the legal system at worst. The children were not abducted.
"After being in Joe’s care for the past three months at the agreement of both parties, the children are currently with their mother. Sophie is making this claim only to move the divorce proceedings to the UK and to remove the children from the U.S. permanently.
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“Joe has already disavowed any and all statements purportedly made on his behalf that were disparaging of Sophie. They were made without his approval and are not consistent with his views.
"His 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.”
UNILAD has reached out to reps for Sophie Turner for comment.
Topics: Celebrity, Sophie Turner, Joe Jonas
Jess Hardiman