{"data":{"id":"us-wa/rcw-26.27.261","jurisdiction":"us-wa","citation":"RCW 26.27.261","heading":"Inconvenient forum.","body":"(1) A court of this state 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(2) 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:\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 child;\n(b) The length of time the 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 testimony of the 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 in the pending litigation.\n(3) 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(4) 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 dissolution or another proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the dissolution or other proceeding.","path":["Title 26","Chapter 26.27"],"source_url":"https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=26.27.261","current_through":"July 15, 2026","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T01:41:38Z","sha256":"a85c5748582f90ea24e5b6cf05e085978b88ca60527d7563b89d179dc7dbd2e0","source_id":"us-wa","stale":false,"prev":"us-wa/rcw-26.27.251","next":"us-wa/rcw-26.27.271"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}