{"data":{"id":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-61.520","jurisdiction":"us-fl","citation":"Fla. Stat. § 61.520","heading":"Inconvenient forum.","body":"(1) A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this part 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 motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.\n(2) 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(a) 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(b) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;\n(c) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\n(d) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\n(e) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\n(f) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;\n(g) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and\n(h) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n(3) 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(4) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this part 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.\nHistory.—s. 5, ch. 2002-65.","path":["CHAPTER 61 DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE; SUPPORT; TIME-SHARING"],"source_url":"https://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute\u0026URL=0000-0099/0061/0061.html","current_through":"2026 Florida Statutes","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T01:57:57Z","sha256":"707020a79485bae2261852ce4c01db8833e0f5d918af87b46a9932522fc246e7","source_id":"us-fl","stale":false,"prev":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-61.519","next":"us-fl/fla.-stat.-61.521"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}