{"data":{"id":"us-vt/15-v.s.a.-1077","jurisdiction":"us-vt","citation":"15 V.S.A. § 1077","heading":"Inconvenient forum","body":"(a) A Vermont court 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 appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or a request of another court.\n(b) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a Vermont court 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 Vermont;\n(3) the distance between the Vermont court 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) If a Vermont court 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 Vermont court 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 15: Domestic Relations","Chapter 020: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act","Subchapter 002: JURISDICTION"],"source_url":"https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/15/020/01077","current_through":"2025 session","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-05T17:17:00Z","sha256":"3df2e442455a74730ff7fb56e362e9ce3513c7b7546b796fe6dd85aa7f3882c7","source_id":"us-vt","stale":false,"prev":"us-vt/15-v.s.a.-1076","next":"us-vt/15-v.s.a.-1078"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}