‘A serious abuse of the legal system’: Shock twist in Joe Jonas Sophie Turner divorce as couple fight in court over custody

The high profile couple split earlier this month after four years of marriage and have two children, Willa, 3, and DJ, 14 months.

Since the couple announced their divorce there has been ongoing speculation as to why the marriage broke apart, including reports Jonas saw incriminating footage of his wife on a home security camera that signalled the marriage was over.

A source close to Jonas, 34, also told entertainment website TMZ that a factor in the break up was the X-Men star’s alleged desire to “party” while Jonas preferred to stay home with the kids.

Friends in Turner’s camp promptly hit back at the suggestion and claimed it was she who wanted to remain at home but dutifully attended events with Jonas despite feeling “uncomfortable”.

Now, the 27-year-old actress has claimed Jonas is keeping hold of their kids’ passports, despite previously agreeing that the girls would live in her native UK amid their split, the suit filed in Manhattan federal court 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 document alleged. 

The suit went on to call for Turner to “secure the immediate return of children wrongfully removed or wrongfully retained” by Jonas. 

Jonas’ legal team has strongly hit back at his estranged wife with a lengthy statement issued on Thursday local time labelling her claims “misleading at best, and a serious abuse of the legal system at worst”.

“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 legal rebuke said. 

“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.

“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.”

Amid the couple’s split, Turner was spotted on a night out in New York with music superstar Taylor Swift, who also dated Joe Jonas back in 2008. 

Jonas’ legal team also confirmed the children are currently with Turner after “being in Joe’s care for the past three months”. 

“The children are currently with their mother,” the legal document said. 

“Sophie is making this claim only to move the divorce proceedings to the UK and to remove the children from the U.S. permanently.

“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.”