(a) The general purposes of this act are
to:
(1) Avoid jurisdictional competition and
conflict with courts of other states in matters
of child custody which have in the past resulted
in the shifting of children from state to state
with harmful effects on their well-being;
(2) promote cooperation with the courts of
other states to the end that a custody decree is
rendered in that state which can best decide the
case in the interest of the child;
(3) assure that litigation concerning the
custody of a child take place ordinarily in the
state with which the child and the child's family
have the closest connection and where significant
evidence concerning the child's care, protection,
training, and personal relationships is most
readily available, and that courts of this state
decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the
child and the child's family have a closer
connection with another state;
(4) discourage continuing controversies
over child custody in the interest of greater
stability of home environment and of secure
family relationships for the child;
(5) deter abductions and other unilateral
removals of children undertaken to obtain custody
awards;
(6) avoid re-litigation of custody
decisions of other states in this state insofar
as feasible;
(7) facilitate the enforcement of custody
decrees of other states;
(8) promote and expand the exchange of
information and other forms of mutual assistance
between the courts of this state and those of
other states concerned with the same child; and
(9) make uniform the law of those states
which enact it.
(b) This act shall be construed to promote
the general purposes stated in this section.
Return to previous page