Sophie Turner sues estranged husband Joe Jonas for ‘abducting’ her kids

Sophie Turner is suing Joe Jonas for "abducting" their daughters. 

The Game of Thrones actress is taking legal action against her estranged husband, just a few weeks after he filed for divorce, as she claims their daughters, Willa, three, and a 14-month-old girl whose name hasn't been publicly disclosed, are being wrongfully retained in New York City. 

Documents filed in Manhattan and obtained by TMZ revealed Sophie wants the girls to return to her "forever home" in England. 

According to the paperwork, the family made the UK their "permanent home" in April 2023 and Sophie and Joe regularly discussed their desire to raise the children and have them attend school there because they felt England was a safe place to raise their children. 

The documents included a lengthy passage detailing all the activities the children have taken part in in England and Sophie explained that "with some hesitation", she and Joe agreed the kids would go with their dad while the Jonas Brothers toured the US because she was busy shooting a "very intense" and time-consuming TV series. 

The 27-year-old actress claimed the agreement was that when she finished filming in September, she would fly to New York to "collect the children and return home to England." 

According to divorce papers, Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas' marriage is "irretrievably broken". Photo / HBO

She decided to take legal action because over the weekend she and the Sucker singer met to discuss their separation and she stressed her plan to take the children back to England with her but Joe "refused to return the passports to the Mother and refuses to send the children home to England with the Mother." 

On Tuesday, Joe's attorney contacted her team and said the girls wouldn't be returning to England. 

Sophie filed the documents in federal court, citing the Hague Convention - which deals with child abduction across country lines - and wants a court order demanding Joe hand over the children and their passports. 

According to TMZ, the court documents also shed some light on the timing of the end of the former couple's four-year marriage. 

Sophie stated they had argued on 15 August and Joe filed for divorce on 1 September - but she only found out through the media on 5 September. 

Sophie Turner Turner is seeking a court order demanding Joe Jonas hand over the children and their passports. Photo / Getty Images

In a statement obtained by PEOPLE, a representative for Joe disputes the actress's claims saying: "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. 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." 

The statement continues: "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." 

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 US and the UK". 

The musician has also rubbished the allegation that he's "abducted" his own children. 

The statement added: "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." 

- Bang! Showbiz