Philadelphia, PA asked in Child Custody for Pennsylvania

Q: Can a mother in Puerto Rico that wants to come to the USA bring her child with her if the father disagrees

The father did not reside with the child and is in jail.

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1 Lawyer Answer

A: First, since Puerto Rico is a United States territory, it's already part of the USA. The question, really, is can mother relocate with child from Puerto Rico to somewhere else within the USA?

The answer depends on the territory laws of Puerto Rico, and you should ask your question under the Puerto Rico section here of "Ask a Lawyer." In addition, most states in the USA have adopted uniform legislation concerning child custody jurisdiction, and that governs which court/jurisdiction would adjudicate custody issues.

Best of luck to you.

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