Italian appeal court rejects parents' complaint in Palmoli case, three children stay in care

The appeal court's ruling

The Court of Appeal in L'Aquila has rejected the complaint lodged by the parents of three children at the centre of the 'family in the woods' case in Palmoli, in the Chieti province. The court upheld the juvenile court's order and confirmed the validity of the technical expert report on which that order rests. The three children have been placed in a protected structure since November 2025. The parents' lawyer, Simone Pillon, announced the decision in a written statement on 13 November.

What the defence argues

Pillon described the outcome as expected, since earlier courts had reached the same view. He argued that the appeal court ignored evidence of health risks to the children linked to staying in the family-care home. According to his statement, the court also set aside the defence's points on the parents' freedom to choose their children's school. He added that the court did not apply case law treating out-of-family placement as a last resort with a clearly defined duration. Pillon wrote that the defence will lodge a Cassation appeal in the coming days.

“As was unfortunately foreseeable given the previous confirmations, the L'Aquila Court of Appeal decided to reject the appeal.”

A gradual return stays on track

The court kept the stepwise reunification plan that is already under way, and the process will continue on the timetable set by the juvenile court and social services. Reporting on the arrangements says the children will remain in a community in Vasto and keep attending the public school where they have been enrolled since the start of this school year. They see their parents during the week and sleep at the Palmoli home only at weekends. Reunification that is already happening will continue, but at the pace the court has set.

“The children are very happy to be able to spend weekends and midweek visiting days with mum and dad, while eagerly awaiting their definitive return.”

Background in the court file

The defence filed a 36-page brief at the end of October, and it did not secure a return of the children to the family home. The children were placed in a protected structure in November 2025. The juvenile court had ordered a gradual path to reunite the parents with the three children, and the parents challenged that order before the appeal court. The defence had asked for immediate and full reunification and for the home-schooling project to be admitted.

Next steps

The defence will file a Cassation appeal in the coming days, which moves the dispute to Italy's highest court on points of law. The Court of Appeal kept the reunification plan in place, so the children's living arrangements do not change for now. The timing of a permanent return depends on the Cassation outcome and on the schedule set by the juvenile court and social services. The statement gives no date for the filing beyond 'the coming days'.