Asked in Child Support and Family Law for Florida

Q: Divorced in CT were I reside with spouse and children. Non Custodial parent resides in AR and I just moved to FL.

How much time I need to wait to request change of jurisdiction from CT to FL?

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1 Lawyer Answer
Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: Six months. Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, which is the law in all four states involved, for the Florida courts to have jurisdiction, Florida must be the "home state" of the child. "Home state" is defined as

" ... state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding. In the case of a child younger than 6 months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of any of the mentioned persons is part of the period." (quoting from Florida Statute 61.503)

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