Texas Family Code

§ 152.207 — INCONVENIENT FORUM

FA § 152.207Title 5. THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND THE SUIT AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Part B. SUITS AFFECTING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP · Ch. 152. UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT · Art. C. JURISDICTION

Statute text

View on source

(a)A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this chapter to make a child custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon motion of a party, the court's own motion, or request of another court.

(b)Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevant factors, including:

(1)whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in 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 the state that would assume jurisdiction;

(4)the relative financial circumstances of the parties;

…

Legislative history

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 34, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.