Navigate interstate child custody jurisdiction with clarity. Understand which UCCJEA provisions apply to your situation before your hearing.
⚠️ Pennsylvania Jurisdiction Assumed. This simulator provides statute-based information only — not legal advice. Designed for self-represented litigants with interstate child custody matters governed by the UCCJEA.
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For Court Self-Help Administrators: This simulator demonstrates the base-tier service UCCJEA.info offers free to family court self-help centers. It helps pro se litigants understand what may be raised during their jurisdiction hearing — reducing unnecessary continuances, clerk interruptions, and helping judges move interstate custody dockets faster.
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Is there currently a custody order from, or a custody case filed/pending in, another court?
23 Pa.C.S. § 5426 — Simultaneous Proceedings
When multiple states may have jurisdiction, the UCCJEA establishes a priority system to determine which court proceeds. If proceedings have been commenced in more than one state, communication between courts is required. Priority is given based on specific statutory criteria — including which proceeding was filed first — and consideration of home state jurisdiction under §5421(a)(1) and significant connection jurisdiction under §5421(a)(2). Your case will include this provision in the analysis below.
2
What action is being sought?
3
Has a custody case for this/these child(ren) been filed or is one pending in another court?
Jurisdictional Analysis
Uniform UCCJEA Self-Help, Finally
This analysis framework applies uniformly across all states that have adopted the UCCJEA — the same base-tier service, available to any family court self-help center.
PA
Active Demo
NJ
Framework Ready
NY
Framework Ready
FL
Framework Ready
CA
Framework Ready
Why Courts Should Partner with UCCJEA.info
Pro se litigants are held to the same legal standards as licensed attorneys — yet most family court self-help centers offer no UCCJEA services. UCCJEA.info's base tier, offered free to family court self-help centers, ensures litigants understand the jurisdictional framework before they reach the courtroom. This isn't a child custody tool — it helps litigants prepare for their jurisdiction case.
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Unnecessary continuances from unprepared pro se litigants
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Clerk workload interruptions on UCCJEA questions
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Case efficiency for judges moving interstate dockets
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Base tier free to every family court self-help center