{"data":{"id":"us-nh/rsa-458-a-18","jurisdiction":"us-nh","citation":"RSA 458-A:18","heading":"Inconvenient Forum.","body":"I. 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 motion of a party, the court's own motion, or request of another court.\nII. 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(a) 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(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 would 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 litigation, including testimony of the child;\n(g) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and\n(h) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\nIII. 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.\nIV. 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 XLIII: DOMESTIC RELATIONS","Chapter 458-A: UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT ACT","Jurisdiction"],"source_url":"https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XLIII/458-A/458-A-18.htm","current_through":"2025 regular legislative session, or December 2025","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T16:26:31Z","sha256":"78acb1165f19e88a4db9b4f5831b790ac2df974bcf90906f883e25a723ef6410","source_id":"us-nh","stale":false,"prev":"us-nh/rsa-458-a-17","next":"us-nh/rsa-458-a-19"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}