I live in WA, my ex lives in TX. I have custody & we have a parenting plan. If I move to LA, will that state honor our agreement ? ...

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I live in WA, my ex lives in TX. I have custody & we have a parenting plan. If I move to LA, will that state honor our agreement ?

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Parents of minor children who

Parents of minor children who live in two different states is fairly common. So much so that Congress passed The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, or UCCJEA, to clear up any confusion regarding which state has the authority to handle child custody issues. For example, the UCCJEA requires each state to honor child custody orders issued in other states, and not to become involved in an issue whose jurisdiction has been firmly established in another state. However, if issues arise after you live in Louisiana for six months, it may become necessary for the state of Louisiana to hear the child custody case. For example, if an emergency situation arose, the state of Louisiana may get involved. The state will, however, honor any prior arrangements you had in Washington or Texas. In addition, once a state has accepted jurisdiction of your child custody issues, another state is unlikely to get involved. It sounds like you and the other parent have come to some sort of an agreement regarding how you will care for your child. One issue to consider is whether the custody and parenting plan is on the record in Washington or in Texas. If it is not, it would be wise to add the plan to your official court record.

However, to relieve any worries you may have about whether your custody status will change, you should contact a family law attorney in Louisiana. It is a good idea to provide the attorney with a copy of the parenting plan and custody order to examine as well.

All Comments

Parents of minor children who

Parents of minor children who live in two different states is fairly common. So much so that Congress passed The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, or UCCJEA, to clear up any confusion regarding which state has the authority to handle child custody issues. For example, the UCCJEA requires each state to honor child custody orders issued in other states, and not to become involved in an issue whose jurisdiction has been firmly established in another state. However, if issues arise after you live in Louisiana for six months, it may become necessary for the state of Louisiana to hear the child custody case. For example, if an emergency situation arose, the state of Louisiana may get involved. The state will, however, honor any prior arrangements you had in Washington or Texas. In addition, once a state has accepted jurisdiction of your child custody issues, another state is unlikely to get involved. It sounds like you and the other parent have come to some sort of an agreement regarding how you will care for your child. One issue to consider is whether the custody and parenting plan is on the record in Washington or in Texas. If it is not, it would be wise to add the plan to your official court record.

However, to relieve any worries you may have about whether your custody status will change, you should contact a family law attorney in Louisiana. It is a good idea to provide the attorney with a copy of the parenting plan and custody order to examine as well.