{"data":{"id":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-209d-2-204","jurisdiction":"us-ma","citation":"Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 209D, § 2-204","heading":"Simultaneous proceedings","body":"Section 2–204. Simultaneous proceedings.\n(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country only if:\n(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the commonwealth is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state or the foreign country for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or the foreign country;\n(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state or the foreign country; and\n(3) if relevant, the commonwealth is the home state of the child.\n(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth 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:\n(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the other state or foreign country is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the commonwealth for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the commonwealth;\n(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the commonwealth; and\n(3) if relevant, the other state or foreign country is the home state of the child.","path":["Part II","Title III","Chapter 209D"],"source_url":"https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleIII/Chapter209D/Section2-204","current_through":"amendments passed before May 31, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-17T05:24:39Z","sha256":"3078a464f0e225fee87c1a8618d6f9fe98ee12e7f088ccb7ee864cf5f3da1c8c","source_id":"us-ma","stale":false,"prev":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-209d-2-203","next":"us-ma/mass.-gen.-laws-ch.-209d-2-205"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}