{"data":{"id":"us-ky/krs-403.834","jurisdiction":"us-ky","citation":"KRS 403.834","heading":"Inconvenient forum.","body":"(1) A court of this state which has jurisdiction under KRS 403.800 to 403.880 to make\na child custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if\nit determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a\ncourt of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum\nmay be raised upon motion of a party, the court's own motion, or request of another\ncourt.\n(2) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state shall\nconsider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to exercise\njurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information\nand shall consider all relevant factors, including:\n(a) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future\nand 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\nwould 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\nlitigation, including testimony of the child;\n(g) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the\nprocedures necessary to present the evidence; and\n(h) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the\npending litigation.\n(3) If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenient forum and that a court of\nanother state is a more appropriate forum, it shall stay the proceedings upon\ncondition that a child custody proceeding be promptly commenced in another\ndesignated state and may impose any other condition the court considers just and\nproper.\n(4) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under KRS 403.800 to\n403.880 if a child custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or\nanother proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other\nproceeding.","path":["KRS Chapter 403"],"source_url":"https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=17511","current_through":"Includes enactments through the 2026 Regular Session","vintage":"09/05/2026","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T20:59:31Z","sha256":"a01cd30a934a10eb7f9220110d5d1194add90872a45aa9027c3593cab1f901a9","source_id":"us-ky","stale":false,"prev":"us-ky/krs-403.832","next":"us-ky/krs-403.836"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}