Title 19, Chapter 9, Section 21
( 19-9-21)
(a) The general purposes of this article are to: (1) Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict by courts within
this state in matters of child custody, which have in the past
resulted in the shifting of children from county to county with
harmful effects on their well-being; (2) Promote cooperation by the courts of this state, to the end
that a custody decree is rendered by the court which can best
decide the case in the interest of the child; (3) Assure that litigation concerning the custody of a child
ordinarily takes place in the court with which the child and his
family have the closest connection and where significant evidence
concerning the care, protection, training, and personal
relationships of the child is most readily available and that
courts of this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the
child and his family have a closer connection with another court
of this state; (4) Discourage continuing controversies over child custody, in the
interest of greatest stability of home environment and of secure
family relationships for the child; (5) Deter abductions and other unilateral removals of children
undertaken to obtain custody awards; (6) Avoid relitigation of custody decisions of other courts in
this state insofar as is feasible; (7) Facilitate the enforcement of custody decrees; (8) Make uniform the practice and procedure of the courts of this
state in child custody matters. (b) This article shall be construed to promote the general purposes
stated in subsection (a) of this Code section. |