Opinion ID: 1534999
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: uccjea and pkpa

Text: [¶ 12] Jurisdictional questions regarding determinations of child custody are controlled by the UCCJEA, 19-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1731-1783, and the PKPA, 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A. The UCCJEA repealed and replaced the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA), 19-A M.R.S.A. §§ 1701-1725 (1998). The UCCJEA took effect January 1, 2000. Id. § 1782. The parties agree that the UCCJEA, rather than the UCCJA, governs this case. [¶ 13] The PKPA prohibits a state from modifying a custody order of another state when the state that issued the custody order made that determination consistent with the provisions of the PKPA and its own laws and continues to be the state of residence of one of the parties. [5] 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A(d); Barclay v. Eckert, 2000 ME 10, ¶ 9, 743 A.2d 1259, 1262. Pursuant to the UCCJEA, Maine has exclusive continuing jurisdiction over this visitation dispute because Maine made the initial child custody determination and one parent has a significant connection with Maine. See 19-A M.R.S.A. § 1746(1). [¶ 14] The crux of Shanoski's argument is that because Maine had exclusive continuing jurisdiction, the PKPA prohibited North Carolina from accepting jurisdiction. He contends that because North Carolina acted erroneously in accepting jurisdiction, the PKPA prohibits Maine from declining to exercise jurisdiction. While Shanoski concedes that the Maine court could have declined to exercise its continuing jurisdiction on forum non conveniens grounds, he argues that Maine could not decline jurisdiction after North Carolina accepted jurisdiction. [¶ 15] We disagree. Neither the PKPA nor the UCCJEA prohibit Maine from declining to exercise jurisdiction on the ground of inconvenient forum. In fact, both statutory schemes contemplate a court declining to exercise jurisdiction. The UCCJEA sets forth factors for a court to consider when deciding whether to decline to exercise jurisdiction, 19-A M.R.S.A. § 1751(2), and the PKPA states that a court may not modify a visitation determination of another state, unless that other state no longer has jurisdiction or has declined to exercise jurisdiction, 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A(h). Neither statute supports Shanoski's interpretation that a court with exclusive continuing jurisdiction must exercise jurisdiction if another court has erroneously accepted jurisdiction.