Interstate Child Abduction and UCCJEA

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA has been adopted widely throughout the U.S. It ensures that States recognize and enforce custody orders from other States and foreign courts. In addition, it also legislates which court has jurisdiction in custody cases involving multiple states.

The UCCJEA mandates that, with some exceptions, jurisdiction in custody cases belongs to the courts in the child’s home state. The child’s home state is where the child has lived six consecutive months prior to the commencement any custody proceeding.