Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1927 – Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct
(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 1923 of this title, if a court of this State has jurisdiction under this chapter because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:
(1) The parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;
(2) A court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under §§ 1920-1922 of this title determines that this State is a more appropriate forum under § 1926 of this title; or
(3) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in §§ 1920-1922 of this title.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1927
- Child: means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age. See Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1902
- Child custody proceeding: means a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody or visitation with respect to a child is an issue. See Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1902
- Court: means the Family Court of the State. See Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1902
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency or instrumentality, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1902
- State: means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United State Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 13 Sec. 1902
(b) If a court of this State declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it may fashion an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of the child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a child custody proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction under §§ 1920-1922 of this title.
(c) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, it shall assess against the party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses, including costs, communication expenses, attorney’s fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses and child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment would be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs or expenses against this State unless authorized by law other than this chapter.