Austin, TX family law attorney Tyler Pennington talks about the issues that arise in international divorces. He remarks that Austin is a major transplant city, drawing people not just from other parts of Texas but from around the world, largely because it’s a significant tech hub. In his practice, he has handled cases that reflect this diversity. Recently, for example, he worked on a trial involving two parents disputing visitation, custody, and property issues—neither of whom were U.S. citizens. One parent sought to return to their home country with the child, creating complex legal challenges.

In such cases, he often collaborates with immigration attorneys to understand the implications of a child remaining in Austin versus traveling internationally. These situations require navigating not only where the parent can live with the child—locally, elsewhere in the U.S., or internationally—but also long-distance visitation arrangements, including children traveling back and forth by plane.

He has also dealt with international property issues, which present additional complexity since Texas courts generally lack personal jurisdiction over property located abroad. Combining international custody, visitation, and property matters creates a highly intricate legal landscape. Through his experience, he has successfully helped clients achieve favorable outcomes for both their children and their international property interests.