Opinion ID: 2619553
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Motion For Custody

Text: It is the general rule that a Colorado court should not take jurisdiction to modify an award of custody of a child made by a court of a sister state. To this rule there are two exceptions: (1) When the domicile is changed to Colorado and, since the entry of the decree of the court of the sister state, there have been changes of condition which affect the welfare of the child and form a basis for change of custody; and (2) the right of a state as parens patriae to protect any child within its borders. Fahrenbruch v. People ex rel. Taber, Colo., 453 P.2d 601, Supreme Court No. 23574 announced on April 28, 1969; McMillin v. McMillin, 114 Colo. 247, 158 P.2d 444, 160 A.L.R. 396. The trial court indicated that the motion did not present the matter of a change of domicile to Colorado nor of a change of condition. We do not pass on this as it is not a ruling beyond the jurisdiction of the court. It would seem that the right of the state as parens patriae cannot be urged in a divorce action. This point has not been argued and we do not pass on it. The matter properly before us is that the court took the position that its only jurisdiction under the motion for change of custody was to remand the child back to South Dakota. A Colorado court, under a motion by a Colorado resident for change of custody, obviously does not have jurisdiction to order the child to another state. We hold that the court had no jurisdiction under the motion for change of custody to order the child to be taken to South Dakota.