{"data":{"id":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-1745","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"19-A M.R.S. §1745","heading":"Initial child custody jurisdiction","body":"1.  Jurisdiction over initial determination.  Except as otherwise provided in section 1748, a court of this State has jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if:\nA.  This State is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding or was the home state of the child within 6 months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this State but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this State;\nB.  A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under paragraph A or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this State is the more appropriate forum under section 1751 or 1752 and:\n(1)  The child and the child's parents, or the child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this State other than mere physical presence; and\n(2)  Substantial evidence is available in this State concerning the child's care, protection, training and personal relationships;\nC.  All courts having jurisdiction under paragraph A or B have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this State is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under section 1751 or 1752; or\nD.  No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in paragraph A, B or C.\n2.  Exclusive jurisdictional basis.  Subsection 1 is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a child custody determination by a court of this State.\n3.  Physical presence or personal jurisdiction not necessary or sufficient.  Physical presence of or personal jurisdiction over a party or a child is not necessary or sufficient to make a child custody determination.","path":["TITLE 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS","PART 3: PARENTS AND CHILDREN","CHAPTER 58: UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT","SUBCHAPTER 2: JURISDICTION"],"source_url":"https://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/19-A/title19-Asec1745.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"acf15365e48635a3ff3c329a5dc26810f707e01669b4f76a503f89bd8a75fc34","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-1742","next":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-1746"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}