Opinion ID: 1871970
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: should nebraska exercise jurisdiction?

Text: In her fourth assignment of error, Becky assigns that even if the district court had jurisdiction under the NCCJA, it should have declined to exercise that jurisdiction. In support of her position, Becky argues that Colorado, rather than Nebraska, was the most convenient forum to hear this dispute and, further, that the district court's exercise of jurisdiction contravened the purposes of the NCCJA as stated in § 43-1201. Because Becky's arguments rely upon specific provisions of §§ 43-1201 and 43-1207 of the NCCJA, we initially set forth the relevant provisions of those sections. Section 43-1207 provides: (1) A court which has jurisdiction under [the NCCJA] to make an initial or modification decree may decline to exercise its jurisdiction any time before making a decree if it finds that it is an inconvenient forum to make a custody determination under the circumstances of the case and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. . . . . (3) In determining if it is an inconvenient forum, the court shall consider if it is in the interest of the child that another state assume jurisdiction. For this purpose it may take into account the following factors, among others: (a) If another state is or recently was the child's home state; (b) If another state has a closer connection with the child and his family or with the child and one or more of the contestants; (c) If substantial evidence concerning the child's present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships is more readily available in another state; (d) If the parties have agreed on another forum which is no less appropriate; and (e) If the exercise of jurisdiction by a court of this state would contravene any of the purposes stated in section 43-1201. Section 43-1201 sets forth the purposes behind the NCCJA and provides, in relevant part, that the court should strive to: (c) Assure that litigation concerning the custody of a child take place ordinarily in the state with which the child and his family have the closest connection and where significant evidence concerning his 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 his family have a closer connection with another state; (d) Discourage continuing controversies over child custody in the interest of greater stability of home environment and of secure family relationships for the child; . . . . (f) Avoid relitigation of custody decisions of other states in this state when feasible. Becky and the children moved from Kansas to Nebraska following the entry of the initial divorce decree in April 1999, and then to Colorado in August 2000. As the district court noted, while in Colorado, the children attended several different schools and had several different baby-sitters. No evidence exists in the record to suggest any ongoing relationships between the children and persons associated with any of these schools or care providers. In fact, with the exception of friendships the children developed in Colorado over their summer visitation, there is no evidence in the record regarding existing relationships between the children and anyone in Colorado, save Becky and her new husband. Following the decision of the Kansas district court on February 28, 2003, the children moved from Colorado to Nebraska and have resided with Verlyn in Nebraska since that time. As the district court found, the children attend school and church in Nebraska, have friends in Nebraska, and are involved in extracurricular activities in Nebraska. The record also indicates the children receive medical care in Nebraska. As noted above, in determining whether it should exercise jurisdiction under the NCCJA, a court should consider the factors set forth in § 43-1207(3), as well as the purposes behind the NCCJA as enunciated in § 43-1201. In doing so, we first note that although Colorado was formerly the children's home state, they have not resided in Colorado since February 2003. Moreover, a review of the record shows that the children have closer ties with Nebraska than Colorado and that the bulk of the evidence regarding their present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships is more readily available in Nebraska. See § 43-1207(3). Furthermore, Nebraska's exercise of jurisdiction would facilitate rather than contravene the purposes behind the NCCJA. In particular, given the children's contacts in Nebraska, Nebraska's exercise of jurisdiction would ensure that litigation takes place in the state with the closest connection to the children and where the most evidence can be found. Nebraska's exercise of jurisdiction would also discourage continuing controversies, promote stability in the lives of these children, and avoid relitigation of a matter which, at a minimum, has been twice previously heard on its merits. This court has held that the end goal of the NCCJA is that litigation concerning the custody of a child takes place in the state which can best decide the case. Hamilton v. Foster, 260 Neb. 887, 620 N.W.2d 103 (2000). We believe Nebraska's exercise of jurisdiction best meets this goal. Contrary to Becky's assertions, we conclude that upon this record, Nebraska, not Colorado, was the more convenient forum to hear this custody matter and, further, that Nebraska's exercise of jurisdiction did not contravene the purposes of the NCCJA. Accordingly, we determine that the Platte County District Court did not abuse its discretion in exercising jurisdiction. Becky's fourth assignment of error is without merit.