{"data":{"id":"us-pa/23-pa.c.s.-5427","jurisdiction":"us-pa","citation":"23 Pa.C.S. § 5427","heading":"Inconvenient forum.","body":"(a) General rule.--A court of this Commonwealth 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.\n(b) Factors.--Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this Commonwealth 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(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 Commonwealth;\n(3) the distance between the court in this Commonwealth 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 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; and\n(8) the familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n(c) Stay.--If a court of this Commonwealth 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) Jurisdiction declined.--A court of this Commonwealth 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 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS","PART VI CHILDREN AND MINORS","CHAPTER 54 UNIFORM CHILD CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT","SUBCHAPTER B JURISDICTION"],"source_url":"https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM\u0026ttl=23\u0026div=0\u0026chpt=54\u0026sctn=27\u0026subsctn=0","current_through":"2026-07-29 (Statute Update stamp, 23 Pa.C.S.)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-02T16:31:43Z","sha256":"3af5422970806cc5a3aae02a815d2bf4e70730f28fc5d651bf432290f8513fec","source_id":"us-pa","stale":false,"prev":"us-pa/23-pa.c.s.-5426","next":"us-pa/23-pa.c.s.-5428"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}