Scarlett Johansson & Romain Dauriac: A Child Caught Between Two Countries
An American actress, a French journalist, and a toddler — with an ocean in between
Key Facts
What Happened
Scarlett Johansson, one of the highest-grossing actresses in film history, married French journalist and advertising executive Romain Dauriac in 2014. Their daughter, Rose Dorothy, was born the same year. When Johansson filed for divorce in 2017, the case immediately raised questions about international jurisdiction and custody.
The core dispute was deceptively simple: where would their daughter live? Johansson was based in New York. Dauriac, a French citizen, wanted to return to France with Rose. Under the Hague Convention on International Child Abduction — to which both the US and France are signatories — neither parent could unilaterally relocate the child to another country without the other parent's consent or a court order.
Dauriac initially filed for custody in France, arguing that Rose had been born in New York but had spent significant time in Paris and had strong ties to French family. Johansson countered by filing in New York, arguing the child's primary residence was in the United States. The jurisdictional battle was resolved in favor of New York as the child's habitual residence.
The case was ultimately settled privately in 2017, with both parents agreeing to a joint custody arrangement that allowed Rose to spend time in both countries. Legal experts noted that the case highlighted the enormous complexity of custody arrangements when parents hold different nationalities and live on different continents.
Legal Breakdown: International Custody Disputes
The Hague Convention on Child Abduction
The Hague Convention, signed by over 100 countries, prevents parents from unilaterally removing children across international borders during custody disputes. If a child is wrongfully taken, the Convention provides a legal mechanism to return the child to their 'habitual residence.'
Habitual Residence
The key question in international custody cases is: where is the child's habitual residence? Courts look at where the child lives, goes to school, has social connections, and spends the majority of their time. This determination dictates which country's courts have jurisdiction.
Cross-Border Custody Enforcement
Even after a custody order is issued, enforcing it across international borders is challenging. Both parents must comply voluntarily, or the aggrieved party must seek enforcement in the other country's courts — a process that can take months or years.
What This Means for Your Divorce
- →If you and your spouse are of different nationalities, establish the child's habitual residence clearly. It will determine which country's courts have jurisdiction.
- →Do not relocate a child across international borders without legal authorization. It can be treated as abduction under the Hague Convention.
- →International custody arrangements require detailed agreements about travel, passports, schooling, and communication. Leave nothing to assumption.
- →Settling privately is almost always better than litigating international custody in two court systems simultaneously.
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This article is based on publicly available court records, news reports, and legal analysis. It is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this content.
Divorce laws vary by jurisdiction. Always consult a licensed attorney in your area before making legal decisions.