The recent ruling of the Court of Cassation, No. 663 of January 12, 2023, provides important insights into jurisdiction in matters concerning minors, particularly when they hold dual citizenship. The Court reaffirmed the principle that the habitual residence of the minor is the determining criterion for establishing jurisdiction, thereby overriding any agreements between the parties regarding the matter.
The dispute arose from the separation between A.A. and B.B., parents of two minors, E.E. and F.F., born and residing in the United States. The Court of Velletri declared the lack of jurisdiction of the Italian State in favor of the United States regarding custody and maintenance issues. However, the Court of Appeal of Rome, in a subsequent appeal, held that it had jurisdiction, arguing that the defendant had accepted such jurisdiction, despite the minors' residence in the United States.
The Court of Cassation reiterated that, in matters concerning minors, the criterion of habitual residence must prevail, as provided by Article 42 of Law No. 218 of 1995 and the Hague Convention of 1961. Therefore, the consent of one parent regarding jurisdiction is not sufficient, as the protection of minors must be considered a higher interest.
Jurisdiction in matters concerning minors must be assessed in relation to their habitual residence, thus ensuring the continuity of their affective relationships.
In particular, the Court emphasized that the lack of jurisdiction could not be raised ex officio by the Court, as such an approach contradicts the provisions of Italian law. The Court upheld the grounds for appeal presented by A.A., declaring Italian jurisdiction inadequate for resolving the dispute, as the minors were permanently residing in the United States.
This ruling represents a step forward in safeguarding the rights of minors and underscores the importance of considering their well-being within the context of jurisdiction. Jurisdictional decisions must always take into account the habitual residence of minors, ensuring that their emotional and relational needs are respected.
In conclusion, the ruling No. 663/2023 of the Court of Cassation reaffirms the centrality of habitual residence in determining jurisdiction in matters concerning minors. This principle is crucial to ensure the best interests of the children involved and to avoid legal conflicts between different jurisdictions. Lawyers and legal professionals must keep these provisions in mind to provide proper advice to their clients, especially in cases of separation and international custody.
We constantly follow regulatory and jurisprudential developments, offering updated analyses and innovative solutions. We share legal developments to foster a more informed legal culture.
abduction of minors acceptance acceptance of inheritance accumulation of claims action for reduction adjustments adoptability adoption adult children adults adversarial proceeding agricultural contract alimony allocation of the marital home allowance review ascendants autonomy Bergamo best interest of the child best interests of the child biological truth biparentality burden of proof cancellation capacity to understand case law Cassation Cassation ruling change of residence charge child abduction child custody child hearing child protection Child Rights child support child's best interest child's hearing children's needs children's rights children's welfare children’s rights civil law civil liability civil union co-ownership co-parenting cohabitation cohabitation more uxorio collation compensatory liability consensual separation consent Constitutional Court court Court of Appeal Court of Brescia Court of Cassation Court of Crotone Court of Justice of the EU Court of Verona creditor protection creditors crime criminal law custody custody of minors custody rights damages compensation defense rights divorce divorce alimony divorce allowance divorce settlement domestic violence donation donations dual parenthood dual parenting economic disparity economic equity economic responsibility economic self-sufficiency emotional bonds emotional stability employability equity European Court of Justice European protection order evasion evidence exclusive custody extraordinary expenses family family conflict family conflicts family law family obligations family relationships family responsibilities family responsibility fault filial status filiation financial contribution forced heirs foreign minors foster care fragility freedom of choice gender dysphoria genetic testing grandparents guardianship habitual residence Hague Hague Convention hearing of the minor heirs holographic will incapacity incidental appeal income disparity indirect donations individual freedom ineffectiveness infidelity ingratitude inheritance inheritance division inheritance law inheritances interest of the minor international abduction international abduction of minors international custody international law inventory benefit Istanbul Convention Italian jurisprudence Italian justice joinder joinder of parties joint custody judgment judgment 34950/2022 judgments jurisdiction Jurisprudence law 184/1983 law 898/1970 legal aid legal community legal guardianship legitimaries legitimate legitimate share legitimization liability listening to the minor maintenance maintenance allowance maintenance obligation marital community marital home marital responsibility marital separation marriage mediation mild adoption minor abduction minor children minor hearing minor rights minor's opinion minors minors transfer minors' rights mistreatment moral violence mortgage mortgage registration mother's standing natural incapacity non-binary identity non-compliance non-pecuniary damage non-performance notification nullity nullity of will order parental authority parental capacity parental conflict parental consent parental inadequacy parental obligations parental responsibilities parental responsibility parental rights parenting agreement passive standing paternity paternity denial placement of minors protection of minors protection of minors' rights psychological health real estate transfer reconciliation reduction reduction of donations Regulation 2201/2003 reimbursement of expenses religious education repatriation responsibility revocability revocation revocation of spousal support right of defense right of reduction right to be heard right to defense rights of ascendants rights of the beneficiary risk of default ruling ruling 1234/2023 ruling 12345 ruling 16462 ruling 16691/2024 ruling 16703/2024 ruling 16716/2024 ruling 17191/2011 ruling 19069/2024 ruling 2023 ruling 2024 ruling 24369 ruling 2536/2024 ruling 32354/2024 ruling Cassation 2017 ruling Cassation 8229/2023 ruling no. 6433 ruling of the Court of Cassation rulings school self-determination self-responsibility sentence 8980 separation separation agreement separation charge severance pay sex reassignment shared custody shared parenting side agreements simulation social services special curator spousal duties spousal support spouses' rights stalking standard of living standing state of abandonment subsidiary liability succession successions support administration Supreme Court Supreme Court 2024 Supreme Court ruling surrogacy suspensive condition Swiss law technical consultancy territorial jurisdiction testamentary succession testamentary will testator's intention testimony transfer transfer of minors Turin ruling Ukraine unlawful detention violation violation of family assistance violence visitation visitation rights welfare of minors will will of the beneficiary