Case Name: Lucila Ignacia HOLLANDER (Mitchell), Appellant, v. Steven Ted HOLLANDER, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1985-02-12
Citations: 466 So. 2d 268
Docket Number: No. 83-1581
Parties: Lucila Ignacia HOLLANDER (Mitchell), Appellant, v. Steven Ted HOLLANDER, Appellee.
Judges: Before BARKDULL, BASKIN and FERGUSON , JJ.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 466
Pages: 268–271

Head Matter:
Lucila Ignacia HOLLANDER (Mitchell), Appellant, v. Steven Ted HOLLANDER, Appellee.
No. 83-1581.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.
Feb. 12, 1985.
Elizabeth S. Baker, Miami, for appellant.
Gary Kalos, Miami, for appellee.
Before BARKDULL, BASKIN and FERGUSON , JJ.
. Participated in decision, but not oral argument.

Opinion:
BASKIN, Judge.
Holding that Florida has continuing jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, section 61.3108(l)(b), Florida Statutes (1981), we affirm the trial court's order denying appellant's exceptions to the general master's report. The master determined that although the mother had moved to Texas with their child, both parents maintained sufficient contacts with Florida. He concluded that substantial evidence exists in Florida regarding the child's welfare.
We reject appellant's contention that the child, who now lives in Texas, no longer has significant connections with Florida. We are persuaded by O'Connor v. O'Connor, 447 So.2d 1034 (Fla. 4th DCA 1984) and Reeve v. Reeve, 391 So.2d 789 (Fla. 1st DCA 1980), that jurisdiction is established by the presence of substantial evidence regarding the child's present or future care, protection, training and personal relationships. The child must have a significant connection with the state exercising jurisdiction. Hofer v. Agner, 373 So.2d 48 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979). The connection is shown in this case by the father's continued residence in Florida, the fact that the child lived the majority of his life in Florida and has other relatives who live in Florida, and by evidence that the father has exercised his visitation rights within the last three years.
If, as the mother contends, she is harassed by repetitive petitions which require her to incur unwarranted costs to defend, she may apply to the trial court for appropriate costs and fee awards. Hofer at 51. Affirmed.
. The master noted that Texas has not adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act.