{"data":{"id":"us-oh/ohio-rev.-code-3127.21","jurisdiction":"us-oh","citation":"Ohio Rev. Code § 3127.21","heading":"Jurisdiction declined - forum non conveniens.","body":"(A) 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 convenient forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon motion of a party, the court's own motion, or at the request of another court.\n(B) 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 the following:\n(1) 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(2) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;\n(3) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\n(4) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\n(5) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\n(6) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including the testimony of the child;\n(7) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence;\n(8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n(C) 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.\n(D) 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 31 Domestic Relations-Children","Chapter 3127 Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction And Enforcement Act"],"source_url":"https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-3127.21","current_through":"2005-04-11 (Senate Bill 185 - 125th General Assembly)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T19:24:32Z","sha256":"3882f7eafc6b77a46e08e0c24619ab04d2fe6c6b094a01f2c84aea94876050fd","source_id":"us-oh","stale":false,"prev":"us-oh/ohio-rev.-code-3127.20","next":"us-oh/ohio-rev.-code-3127.22"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}