State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Missouri > T30 > C452 > 452_770

Inconvenient forum.

452.770. 1. A court of this state that has jurisdiction undersections 452.700 to 452.930 to make a child custody determination maydecline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if the court determinesthat it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a courtof another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenientforum may be raised upon the court's own motion, at the request of anothercourt or upon motion of a party.

2. Before determining whether the court is an inconvenient forum, acourt of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate that a courtof another state exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shallallow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevantfactors, including:

(1) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continuein the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;

(2) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;

(3) The distance between the court in this state and the court in thestate that would assume jurisdiction;

(4) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;

(5) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assumejurisdiction;

(6) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve thepending litigation, including the testimony of the child;

(7) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issueexpeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and

(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts andissues of the pending litigation.

3. If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenientforum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, thecourt shall stay the proceedings on the condition that a child custodyproceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may imposeany other condition the court considers just and proper.

4. A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdictionunder sections 452.700 to 452.930 if a child custody determination isincidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding while stillretaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.

(L. 2009 H.B. 481)

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Missouri > T30 > C452 > 452_770

Inconvenient forum.

452.770. 1. A court of this state that has jurisdiction undersections 452.700 to 452.930 to make a child custody determination maydecline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if the court determinesthat it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a courtof another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenientforum may be raised upon the court's own motion, at the request of anothercourt or upon motion of a party.

2. Before determining whether the court is an inconvenient forum, acourt of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate that a courtof another state exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shallallow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevantfactors, including:

(1) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continuein the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;

(2) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;

(3) The distance between the court in this state and the court in thestate that would assume jurisdiction;

(4) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;

(5) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assumejurisdiction;

(6) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve thepending litigation, including the testimony of the child;

(7) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issueexpeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and

(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts andissues of the pending litigation.

3. If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenientforum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, thecourt shall stay the proceedings on the condition that a child custodyproceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may imposeany other condition the court considers just and proper.

4. A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdictionunder sections 452.700 to 452.930 if a child custody determination isincidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding while stillretaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.

(L. 2009 H.B. 481)


State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Missouri > T30 > C452 > 452_770

Inconvenient forum.

452.770. 1. A court of this state that has jurisdiction undersections 452.700 to 452.930 to make a child custody determination maydecline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if the court determinesthat it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a courtof another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenientforum may be raised upon the court's own motion, at the request of anothercourt or upon motion of a party.

2. Before determining whether the court is an inconvenient forum, acourt of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate that a courtof another state exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shallallow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevantfactors, including:

(1) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continuein the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;

(2) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;

(3) The distance between the court in this state and the court in thestate that would assume jurisdiction;

(4) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;

(5) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assumejurisdiction;

(6) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve thepending litigation, including the testimony of the child;

(7) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issueexpeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and

(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts andissues of the pending litigation.

3. If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenientforum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, thecourt shall stay the proceedings on the condition that a child custodyproceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may imposeany other condition the court considers just and proper.

4. A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdictionunder sections 452.700 to 452.930 if a child custody determination isincidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding while stillretaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.

(L. 2009 H.B. 481)