78B-13-207 - Inconvenient forum.
78B-13-207. Inconvenient forum.
(1) A court of this state that has jurisdiction under this chapter to make a child custodydetermination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is aninconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a moreappropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon the court's own motion,request of another court, or motion of a party.
(2) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state shallconsider whether it is appropriate that a court of another state exercise jurisdiction. For thispurpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevantfactors, including:
(a) whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future andwhich state could best protect the parties and the child;
(b) the length of time the child has resided outside this state;
(c) the distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that wouldassume jurisdiction;
(d) the relative financial circumstances of the parties;
(e) any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;
(f) the nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation,including the testimony of the child;
(g) the ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and theprocedures necessary to present the evidence; and
(h) the familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues of the pendinglitigation.
(3) If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenient forum and that a court ofanother state is a more appropriate forum, it shall stay the proceedings upon condition that a childcustody proceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may impose anyother condition the court considers just and proper.
(4) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this chapter if achild custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding whilestill retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.
Renumbered and Amended by Chapter 3, 2008 General Session