{"data":{"id":"us-al/ala.-code-30-3b-207","jurisdiction":"us-al","citation":"Ala. Code § 30-3B-207","heading":"Inconvenient Forum.","body":"(a) A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this chapter to make a child custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon the motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.\n(b) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevant factors, including:\n(1) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;\n(2) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;\n(3) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\n(4) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\n(5) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\n(6) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;\n(7) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and\n(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n(c) If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenient forum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, it shall stay the proceedings upon condition that a child custody proceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may impose any other condition the court considers just and proper.\n(d) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this chapter if a child custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.","path":["Title 30 Marital and Domestic Relations.","Chapter 3B Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.","Article 2 Jurisdiction."],"source_url":"https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=30-3B-207","current_through":"Act 2026-611","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T14:01:52Z","sha256":"bed96ff00bd57c9d73fd6f03d993db522d7a24af92c0d194e79d7f09a46c7a91","source_id":"us-al","stale":false,"prev":"us-al/ala.-code-30-3b-206","next":"us-al/ala.-code-30-3b-208"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}