{"data":{"id":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-1751","jurisdiction":"us-me","citation":"19-A M.R.S. §1751","heading":"Inconvenient forum","body":"1.  Court of this State an inconvenient forum.  A court of this State that 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 motion of a party, the court's own motion or request of another court.\n2.  Factors relevant to determining whether inconvenient forum.  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:\nA.  Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;\nB.  The length of time the child has resided outside this State;\nC.  The distance between the court in this State and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\nD.  The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\nE.  Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\nF.  The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;\nG.  The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and\nH.  The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n3.  Determination of inconvenient forum.  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.\n4.  Divorce or other proceeding.  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":["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-Asec1751.html","current_through":"October 1, 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-04T15:12:29Z","sha256":"f764dce97369d362f14816ac38ceab615b2ae20ccb03ee4d8dec20c5846d8c08","source_id":"us-me","stale":false,"prev":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-1750","next":"us-me/19-a-m.r.s.-1752"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}