Opinion ID: 1789071
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: jurisdiction over custody and visitation

Text: The UCCJA creates a system of concurrent jurisdiction in custody determinations. That is, two states may have subject matter jurisdiction to modify custody of the same children. This is true in the instant case. Because the children lived in Texas for a period in excess of six months before the proceedings in question, Texas is their home state under the Texas UCCJA and has acquired subject matter jurisdiction over the children's status. Tex. Fam.Code Ann. §§ 11.52(5), 11.53. Minnesota also had subject matter jurisdiction over the original custody determination made in the 1986 divorce decree and continues to have jurisdiction concerning the custody of the children. Minn.Stat.Ann. § 518A.03 (West 1990). Therefore, Texas and Minnesota have concurrent jurisdiction over the same child custody question. In order to prevent jurisdictional conflicts and competition over child custody, the United States Congress passed the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 (PKPA), 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A (West Supp. 1990). The PKPA requires every state to give full faith and credit to child custody determinations of other states. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A(a). However, the PKPA provides that: A court of a State may modify a determination of the custody of the same child made by a court of another State, if (1) it has jurisdiction to make such a child custody determination; and (2) the court of the other State no longer has jurisdiction, or it has declined to exercise such jurisdiction to modify such determination. 28 U.S.C.A. § 1738A(f). In case of any conflict, the PKPA takes precedence over state law. The court of appeals rejected the mother's argument that the Minnesota court declined to exercise its jurisdiction. The mother bases her argument on the April 5, 1990 order rendered by the Minnesota trial court while this case was pending before the Texas court of appeals. The Minnesota order states: