{"data":{"id":"us-hi/haw.-rev.-stat.-583a-207","jurisdiction":"us-hi","citation":"Haw. Rev. Stat. § 583A-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\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\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\n(2) The length of time the child has resided outside this State;\n\n(3) The distance between the court in this State and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\n\n(4) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\n\n(5) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\n\n(6) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;\n\n(7) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence;\n\n(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation; and\n\n(9) The physical and psychological health of the parties.\n\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\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":["HI Code","Division 3","Title 31","Chapter 583A"],"source_url":"http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol12_Ch0501-0588/HRS0583A/HRS_0583A-0207.htm","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:11Z","sha256":"a60e9b10ade4a5b27fda5715921aaf6e0a5aec62fd4e33cc1e033d2c3dda75fb","source_id":"us-hi","stale":false,"prev":"us-hi/haw.-rev.-stat.-583a-206","next":"us-hi/haw.-rev.-stat.-583a-208"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}