{"data":{"id":"us-ut/utah-code-81-11-207","jurisdiction":"us-ut","citation":"Utah Code § 81-11-207","heading":"Inconvenient forum.","body":"(1)\n(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 the court determines that the court is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.\n(b) The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon the court's own motion, request of another court, or motion of a party.\n(2)\n(a) Before determining whether the court is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state shall consider whether it is appropriate that a court of another state exercise jurisdiction.\n(b) In making a determination under Subsection (2)(a), the court shall:\n(i) allow the parties to submit information; and\n(ii) 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 minor child;\n(B) the length of time the minor 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 the testimony of the minor 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 of the pending litigation.\n(3) If a court of this state determines that the court is an inconvenient forum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, the court 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(4) A court of this state may decline to exercise the court's 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 81 Utah Domestic Relations Code","Chapter 81-11 Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act","Part 81-11-2 Jurisdiction"],"source_url":"https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title81/Chapter11/81-11-S207.html","current_through":"2026 General Session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-03T11:34:34Z","sha256":"8cdce1b0965a26b153383012496abc86e1f82a6c40760630859fb76ee42d61e5","source_id":"us-ut","stale":false,"prev":"us-ut/utah-code-81-11-206","next":"us-ut/utah-code-81-11-208"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}