Is there federal child custody jurisdiction law?
In addition to state legislation governing child custody jurisdiction, the federal Parental Kidnaping Prevention Act (PKPA) was enacted to prevent jurisdictional conflicts and competition over child custody and, in particular, to deter parents from abducting children for purpose of obtaining custody awards. Both PKPA and UCCJA protect the right of the state issuing a custody decree to exercise continuing jurisdiction over the child and promote interstate cooperation and enforcement of custody decrees. If there is a conflict between the federal PKPA and the state UCCJA, PKPA supervenes. Both statutes are aimed at resolving the conflicts arising out of interstate custody disputes: initial custody proceedings, children not returned after out of state visits, conflicting custody awards in two states, child abductions and concealment by fugitive parents, and denials of visitation rights in a distant state. UCCJA governs both initial custody jurisdiction and modifications. PKPA does not gran
