Opinion ID: 2315250
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Nevada Decree

Text: The next question is whether the Nevada custody decree of January 24, 1979, or its amended decree of January 31, 1980, can be recognized and enforced by the courts of this Commonwealth. Section 5354 of the UCCJA provides that: The courts of this Commonwealth shall recognize and enforce an initial or modification decree of a court of another state which had assumed jurisdiction under statutory provisions substantially in accordance with this subchapter or which was made under factual circumstances meeting the jurisdictional standards of this subchapter, so long as the decree has not been modified in accordance with jurisdictional standards substantially similar to those of this subchapter. 42 Pa.C.S.A. § 5354. At the time of the Nevada decree, Nevada had not enacted the UCCJA and its applicable jurisdictional requirements, i.e., six weeks residency and presence of the children, were not in substantial accordance with the UCCJA. Additionally, the factual circumstances surrounding the initial Nevada decree did not meet the jurisdictional standards of § 5344 of the UCCJA. Nevada was not a home state because the children had been there for less than six months when the Nevada court entered the initial default judgment and when appellee commenced proceedings for opening the default judgment. Further, at that time, appellee was still living in Pennsylvania and most of the substantial evidence relevant to custody was available in Pennsylvania. Moreover, we agree with the lower court's statement that the Nevada Court's action frustrated the purposes of the UCCJA which are this Commonwealth's policy to wit; (1) It encouraged Randy's [appellant's] abduction of the children designed to obtain a custody award, whereas our policy is to discourage such abductions. (2) It failed to facilitate enforcement of this State's prior valid custody order, whereas our policy is to facilitate enforcement of valid orders. (3) It failed to cooperate with this court to avoid jurisdictional competition, whereas our policy is to so cooperate. (4) And it failed to assure litigation in the state where the family and child have the closest connections and significant evidence exists, whereas our policy is to strive for such assurances. Sec. 42 Pa.C.S. 5342. (Lower Court Opinion at 7-8). The lower court also noted that the Nevada court failed to acknowledge the prior Pennsylvania decree or proceedings despite its awareness of them and did not decline jurisdiction. See Lower Court Opinion at 8. Accordingly, we cannot recognize and enforce the Nevada decree because it's jurisdictional validity, if any, was limited to Nevada. It follows that the amended Nevada decree is also unenforceable.