What If More Than One State Is Involved In a Child Custody Matter: The first question in many custody and visitation matters is what court should I go to in order to obtain custody orders?
If there are multiple states involved in the case, the courts of both states will be governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA). The courts of each state will consider factors such as the homestate of the child, where the child has resided for the previous six months prior to filing an initial custody determination, where a child was conceived and born, as well as which state does the child or children have more significant connections with. In certain cases, a state can assert “emergency jurisdiction” over a custody matter if there is an immediate harm or abuse. Ultimately, the judges of both states will communicate with each other and a determination will be made concerning the state that will make orders regarding custody and visitation. Our attorneys also have experience in Hague petitions where the United States and another county, which is a “Hague signatory,” are involved. If you find yourself in a situation where a parent kidnaps a child, abscon
