Opinion ID: 1585722
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: jurisdiction

Text: Mississippi as well as Louisiana has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA). The Mississippi Legislature passed the Act in 1982, Ch. 414, Laws 1982, Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-1, et seq., and Louisiana adopted it in 1978. La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13:1707, et seq. The chancellor, no doubt relying solely upon the fact that the original custody decree had been rendered in his court, did not believe the UCCJA applied to this case. In this he was manifestly in error. The first question the chancellor should have addressed was whether Mississippi was the proper state to exercise jurisdiction under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-5 (Supp. 1985). Mississippi apparently was not the child's home state when William filed his petition because she had lived with her mother in Louisiana for approximately two years. There is nothing in the record to suggest there was any other basis for the chancellor to assume jurisdiction under this section. Moreover, when a chancellor is apprised of a pending proceeding in another state, Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-11 requires him to stay the custody proceedings and communicate with the court of the other state before assuming jurisdiction. Merely filing a petition does not mean a court has assumed jurisdiction under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-11. Ordinarily there must be some order of the court indicating it has assumed jurisdiction following filing of a pleading. See: Owens By and Through Mosley v. Huffman, 481 So.2d 231, 243 (Miss. 1985); Vanneck v. Vanneck, 49 N.Y.2d 602, 427 N.Y.S.2d 735, 738, 404 N.E.2d 1278, 1281 (1980); Parltow v. Parltow, 37 Md. App. 191, 376 A.2d 1134, 1139 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. 1977). It is not clear when the Louisiana court assumed jurisdiction. On December 20, 1984, the Hinds County Chancery Court granted William permission to set up a trust account for child support payments. The first time the chancellor addressed any merits in this custody dispute was January 30, 1985, and even this was limited to a hearing on William's contempt motion. It appears from the record that the Louisiana court may not have fully adhered to Louisiana's UCCJA, although it may well have been the more appropriate forum. Louisiana was the home state of the Castille Elizabeth, and she was physically present within their court's jurisdiction. Of course, it is not the prerogative of any court of this state to question the action to be taken by a court of a sister state when it appears their courts failed comply with their own law. However, we do have authority to decline full faith and credit to a judgment of another state when their proceedings were not substantially in accord with the jurisdictional requirements of the UCCJA. See: Owens, 481 So.2d at 247. The record does not reveal whether process was ever served upon William by the Louisiana court or whether that court was informed of the Mississippi proceedings at the time it entered its order modifying the original decree. There is also no indication in the record whether the Louisiana court held a hearing as contemplated by Owens to determine the best interest of this child. This cause must be reversed and remanded for proceedings consistent with the UCCJA. Upon remand before considering the actions taken by the Louisiana court, the chancellor should first determine whether the Mississippi chancery court has authority to act under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-5 (Supp. 1985). In the event this section gives him authority to exercise jurisdiction, he must then determine which state, Mississippi or Louisiana, is the more appropriate and convenient forum under Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-13 (Supp. 1985). And finally, even if the requirements of these two sections would otherwise be sufficiently present to give the chancery court jurisdiction, in view of the posture of this case in the Louisiana court, the chancellor under the Act is further required to determine whether any modification of the original custody decree by the chancery court is foreclosed by an order or judgment of the Louisiana court. See: Miss. Code Ann. § 93-23-11; -17; -25; -27; -29 (Supp. 1985). Because all the statutes cited are quite plain and unambiguous, there is no need for further explanation by this court. REVERSED AND REMANDED FOR PROCEEDINGS CONSISTENT WITH THIS OPINION. WALKER, C.J., ROY NOBLE LEE, P.J., and DAN M. LEE, PRATHER, ROBERTSON, SULLIVAN, ANDERSON and GRIFFIN, JJ., concur.