The UCCJEA – Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act was created to allow for the recognition of another state’s child custody determination. It applies in the United States of America and is based on principles of Comity – which is the recognition and respect accorded to another jurisdiction’s decisions and judgments.

In America this is necessary as we have 50 states, each of which has slight variations on child custody law, although the best interests of the child is to prevail. The UCCJEA is also used to prevent a litigant from forum shopping to get a better judgment in their child custody battle.

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act also recognizes transnational determinations. A foreign countrty is to be treated under the UCCJEA as if it were a state of the United States for enforcement purposes. This can be a beneficial tool depending on whether or not a parent has a prior court order, or wants to attain one.