UCCJEA
Law & Legal abbreviation · Estate and Family Law
| Stands for | Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act |
|---|---|
| Categories | Law & Legal |
UCCJEA stands for Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, an estate and family law abbreviation.
Uniform law adopted in nearly every state that decides which state's courts can rule on child custody, usually the child's "home state", where the child lived for six months before the case, and requires other states to enforce those orders.
Example: Because the children had lived in Ohio for only three months, the Michigan court kept jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
Usage notes
Approved in 1997 to replace the earlier Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, it aligns with the federal Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act. The original state keeps exclusive continuing jurisdiction while a parent or the child still lives there, and other states may act temporarily in emergencies such as abuse. International abductions fall under the Hague Abduction Convention.
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This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.