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UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION ENFORCEMENT ACT (UCCJEA) INFORMATION
WHAT IS THE UCCJEA?
Michigan has enacted the UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT (known as the "UCCJEA").
It is a "uniform" act, because most of the states in the United States
also have enacted this act. (In fact, as of July 2011, the only state
that has NOT enacted the UCCJEA is Massachusetts.)
The UCCJEA provides that the initial child custody determinations should be made by the child's "home state".
WHAT IS THE HOME STATE OF A CHILD?
The UCCJEA defines the "home state" of the minor child as:
"the
state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a
parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the
commencement of a child-custody proceeding. In the case of a child less
than 6 months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived
from birth with a parent or person acting as a parent. A period of
temporary absence of a parent or person acting as a parent is included
as part of the period." MCL 722.1102(g).
IN MY NEW CASE, HOW DOES THE UCCJEA EFFECT ME?
Every divorce, custody and paternity
complaint that is filed in Michigan as the first court action regarding
a minor child, is required to provide information pursuant to the UCCJEA, called the UCCJEA Affidavit.
If you are filing your divorce, custody or paternity case in Michigan, and the minor child of the actino has resided in Michigan for the last 6 months, then the UCCJEA will not effect you, other than to confirm you are filing your case in the right place.
If you wish to file your divorce, custody or paternity case in Michigan and your minor child of the action has not resided in Michigan for the last 6 months, then you will need to look to the UCCJEA for direction as to whether or not you can file your matter regarding the minor child in Michigan.
IN MY OLD CASE, HOW DOES THE UCCJEA EFFECT ME?
If you have an old case from another state (or country) that includes custody and parenting time issues, and the minor child no longer lives in that state (or county), neither parent lives in that state (or country), and the minor child has lived in Michigan for more than 6 months, the UCCJEA may provide you with the ability to move the old case to Michigan.
There are other provisions in the UCCJEA that may provide you with the ability to change the Jurisdiction of your case to Michigan even if you have not been here with the minor child for at least 6 months.
LET US HELP YOU!
The above is
not intended to be legal advice, and is only a brief overview of UCCJEA in Michigan.
If you have any questions regarding the UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION ENFORCEMENT ACT in Michigan, or if you believe you
may be facing a UCCJEA issue in Michigan, contact us today.
A Michigan family law lawyer at our office will be happy to discuss with you how the UCCJEA may effect your case.
There is no charge for your initial phone consultation.
Michigan Divorce Lawyers
Michigan Divorce Attorneys
Michigan Family Law Office
Representing divorce and family law clients
in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties.
ATTORNEY ELLEN PAYNTER West Bloomfield Main Office Troy Satellite Office Telephone: 248/851-7555 | OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday |
Macomb County
| Oakland County
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