Pennsylvania · Through 2026-07-29 (Statute Update stamp, 23 Pa.C.S.)

23 Pa.C.S. § 7204: Simultaneous proceedings.

(a) Permissible.--A tribunal of this State may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country only if all of the following apply:
(1) The petition or comparable pleading in this State is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state or a foreign country for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or a foreign country.
(2) The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state or a foreign country.
(3) If relevant, this State is the home state of the child.
(b) Impermissible.--A tribunal of this State may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country if all of the following apply:
(1) The petition or comparable pleading in the other state or a foreign country is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in this State for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this State.
(2) The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in this State.
(3) If relevant, the other state or a foreign country is the home state of the child.

Where this section sits in the code

Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
PART VIII UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT
CHAPTER 72 JURISDICTION
SUBCHAPTER B PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING TWO OR MORE STATES OR A FOREIGN COUNTRY

(1) The petition or comparable pleading in this State is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state or a foreign country for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or a foreign country.

(2) The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state or a foreign country.

(3) If relevant, this State is the home state of the child.

(b) Impermissible.--A tribunal of this State may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country if all of the following apply:

(1) The petition or comparable pleading in the other state or a foreign country is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in this State for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this State.

(2) The contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in this State.

(3) If relevant, the other state or a foreign country is the home state of the child.

Collected 2026-09-02T16:31:43Z. Source file · JSON

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