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What Is the UCCJEA?

UCCJEA stands for Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction & Enforcement Act. The act makes sure that a case involving the custody of a child is filed in the proper jurisdiction. It prevents a person who did not like a ruling in one case from filing the case in another jurisdiction that is improper.

In order to file a custody case in Florida, the child or children must have lived in Florida for 6 months prior to filing the proceeding. In each custody case, you must fill out a UCCJEA.

In the UCCJEA, you must list the following:

You must list the child or children’s full legal name, sex, where they were born, and date of their birth.

You must list where the child or children have lived for the last 5 years. You must list the address the child or children lived at for the last 5 years. You must list the dates the child or children lived at each place. You must list who the child or children lived with at each place and the present address of those persons. You must list their relationship to the child or children also.

You must state whether there were any previous cases, or if there are any pending cases involving the child or children. You must list the child or children’s name involved in the case. You must list the type of proceeding. You must list where the action is located by listing which state the action was conducted, or is currently pending. You must list the court and the case number of the action. You must list the date of the court order or judgment.

You must list if there are any person not a party to the proceeding that have physical custody, claims of custody, or claims of visitation with the child.

This information is provided only as educational materials, and does not constitute the providing of legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship.