{"data":{"id":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-36-6-222","jurisdiction":"us-tn","citation":"Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-6-222","heading":"Declining jurisdiction - Inconvenient forum","body":"(a) A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this part 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. (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: (1) The length of time the child has resided outside this state; (2) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction; (3) The relative financial circumstances of the parties; (4) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction; (5) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child; (6) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; (7) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child; and (8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation. (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. (d) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this part 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. Acts 1999, ch. 389, § 23.\n(a) A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this part 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) 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: (1) The length of time the child has resided outside this state; (2) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction; (3) The relative financial circumstances of the parties; (4) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction; (5) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child; (6) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; (7) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child; and (8) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n(1) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;\n(2) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\n(3) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\n(4) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\nfamiliarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the pending litigation.\n(1) The length of time the child has resided outside this state;\n(2) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;\n(3) The relative financial circumstances of the parties;\n(4) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction;\n(5) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;\n(6) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence;\n(7) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child; and\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 part 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":["TN Code","Title 36","Chapter 6"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_tn_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:26Z","sha256":"39f4bcabca2ed7c497e3d8b1572e7e7aef56e74424d70f97e56320c2473a87c1","source_id":"us-tn","stale":false,"prev":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-36-6-221","next":"us-tn/tenn.-code-ann.-36-6-223"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}