SB112,5,20 20(5) "Commencement" means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding.
SB112,5,22 21(6) "Court" means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish,
22enforce, or modify a child custody determination.
SB112,6,3 23(7) "Home state" means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a
24person acting as a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the
25commencement of a child custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than 6

1months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth with any
2of the persons mentioned in this subsection. A period of temporary absence of any
3of the persons mentioned in this subsection is part of the period.
SB112,6,5 4(8) "Initial determination" means the first child custody determination
5concerning a particular child.
SB112,6,7 6(9) "Issuing court" means the court that makes a child custody determination
7for which enforcement is sought under this chapter.
SB112,6,9 8(10) "Issuing state" means the state in which a child custody determination is
9made.
SB112,6,13 10(11) "Modification" means a child custody determination that changes,
11replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise made after a previous determination
12concerning the same child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the
13previous determination.
SB112,6,17 14(12) "Person" means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust,
15partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, or government;
16governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality; public corporation; or any
17other legal or commercial entity.
SB112,6,19 18(13) "Person acting as a parent" means a person, other than a parent, to whom
19all of the following apply:
SB112,6,2220 (a) He or she has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for
21a period of 6 consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year
22immediately before the commencement of a child custody proceeding.
SB112,6,2423 (b) He or she has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal
24custody under the law of this state.
SB112,6,25 25(14) "Physical custody" means the physical care and supervision of a child.
SB112,7,3
1(15) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia,
2Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject
3to the jurisdiction of the United States.
SB112,7,5 4(16) "Tribe" means an American Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan Native
5village, that is recognized by federal law or formally acknowledged by a state.
SB112,7,7 6(17) "Warrant" means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement
7officers to take physical custody of a child.
SB112,7,10 8822.03 Proceedings governed by other law. This chapter does not govern
9an adoption proceeding or a proceeding pertaining to the authorization of emergency
10medical care for a child.
SB112,7,14 11822.04 Application to Indian tribes. (1) A child custody proceeding that
12pertains to an Indian child as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC 1901
13et seq., is not subject to this chapter to the extent that it is governed by the Indian
14Child Welfare Act.
SB112,7,16 15(2) A court of this state shall treat a tribe as if it were a state for the purpose
16of applying subchs. I and II.
SB112,7,19 17(3) A child custody determination made by a tribe under factual circumstances
18in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this chapter shall be
19recognized and enforced under subch. III.
SB112,7,22 20822.05 International application. (1) A court of this state shall treat a
21foreign country as if it were a state for the purpose of applying this subchapter and
22subch. II.
SB112,8,2 23(2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a child custody determination made in a
24foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the

1jurisdictional standards of this chapter shall be recognized and enforced under
2subch. III.
SB112,8,4 3(3) A court of this state need not apply this chapter if the child custody law of
4a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.
SB112,8,11 5822.06 Effect of child custody determination. A child custody
6determination made by a court of this state that had jurisdiction under this chapter
7binds all persons who have been served in accordance with the laws of this state or
8notified in accordance with s. 822.08 or who have submitted to the jurisdiction of the
9court, and who have been given an opportunity to be heard. As to those persons, the
10determination is conclusive as to all decided issues of law and fact except to the
11extent that the determination is modified.
SB112,8,14 12822.07 Priority. If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under this
13chapter is raised in a child custody proceeding, the question, upon request of a party,
14shall be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
SB112,8,19 15822.08 Notice to persons outside state. (1) Notice required for the exercise
16of jurisdiction when a person is outside this state may be given in a manner
17prescribed by the law of this state for service of process or by the law of the state in
18which the service is made. Notice shall be given in a manner reasonably calculated
19to give actual notice but may be by publication if other means are not effective.
SB112,8,21 20(2) Proof of service may be made in the manner prescribed by law of this state
21or by the law of the state in which the service is made.
SB112,8,23 22(3) Notice is not required for the exercise of jurisdiction with respect to a person
23who submits to the jurisdiction of the court.
SB112,9,4 24822.09 Appearance and limited immunity. (1) A party to a child custody
25proceeding, including a modification proceeding, or a petitioner or respondent in a

1proceeding to enforce or register a child custody determination, is not subject to
2personal jurisdiction in this state for another proceeding or purpose solely by reason
3of having participated, or of having been physically present for the purpose of
4participating, in the proceeding.
SB112,9,8 5(2) A person who is subject to personal jurisdiction in this state on a basis other
6than physical presence is not immune from service of process in this state. A party
7present in this state who is subject to the jurisdiction of another state is not immune
8from service of process allowable under the laws of that state.
SB112,9,11 9(3) The immunity granted by sub. (1) does not extend to civil litigation based
10on acts unrelated to the participation in a proceeding under this chapter committed
11by an individual while present in this state.
SB112,9,14 12822.10 Communication between courts. (1) In this section, "record"
13means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an
14electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
SB112,9,16 15(2) A court of this state may communicate with a court in another state
16concerning a proceeding arising under this chapter.
SB112,9,20 17(3) The court may allow the parties to participate in the communication. If the
18parties are not able to participate in the communication, they shall be given the
19opportunity to present facts and legal arguments before a decision on jurisdiction is
20made.
SB112,9,23 21(4) Communication between courts on schedules, calendars, court records, and
22similar matters may occur without informing the parties. A record need not be made
23of the communication.
SB112,10,3
1(5) Except as provided in sub. (4), a record shall be made of a communication
2under this section. The parties shall be informed promptly of the communication and
3granted access to the record.
SB112,10,10 4822.11 Taking testimony in another state. (1) In addition to other
5procedures available to a party, a party to a child custody proceeding may offer
6testimony of witnesses who are located in another state, including testimony of the
7parties and the child, by deposition or other means allowable in this state for
8testimony taken in another state. The court on its own motion may order that the
9testimony of a person be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in
10which and the terms upon which the testimony is taken.
SB112,10,15 11(2) A court of this state may permit an individual residing in another state to
12be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means
13before a designated court or at another location in that state. A court of this state
14shall cooperate with courts of other states in designating an appropriate location for
15the deposition or testimony.
SB112,10,18 16(3) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of this
17state by technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be
18excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
SB112,10,21 19822.12 Cooperation between courts; preservation of records. (1) A
20court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to do any of the
21following:
SB112,10,2222 (a) Hold an evidentiary hearing.
SB112,10,2323 (b) Order a person to produce or give evidence under procedures of that state.
SB112,10,2524 (c) Order that an evaluation be made with respect to the custody of a child
25involved in a pending proceeding.
SB112,11,3
1(d) Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript of the
2record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented, and any evaluation
3prepared in compliance with the request.
SB112,11,54 (e) Order a party to a child custody proceeding or any person having physical
5custody of the child to appear in the proceeding with or without the child.
SB112,11,7 6(2) Upon request of a court of another state, a court of this state may hold a
7hearing or enter an order described in sub. (1).
SB112,11,9 8(3) Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under subs.
9(1) and (2) may be assessed against the parties according to the law of this state.
SB112,11,14 10(4) A court of this state shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records
11of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a child custody
12proceeding until the child attains 18 years of age. Upon appropriate request by a
13court or law enforcement official of another state, the court shall forward a certified
14copy of those records.
SB112,11,1615 Subchapter II
16 Jurisdiction
SB112,11,19 17822.21 Initial child custody jurisdiction. (1) Except as provided in s.
18822.24, a court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial determination only if
19any of the following applies:
SB112,11,2320 (a) This state is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement
21of the proceeding, or was the home state of the child within 6 months before the
22commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this state but a parent
23or person acting as a parent continues to live in this state.
SB112,12,224 (b) A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under par. (a), or a court
25of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that

1this state is the more appropriate forum under s. 822.27 or 822.28, and all of the
2following apply:
SB112,12,53 1. The child and the child's parents, or the child and at least one parent or a
4person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this state other than
5mere physical presence.
SB112,12,76 2. Substantial evidence is available in this state concerning the child's care,
7protection, training, and personal relationships.
SB112,12,108 (c) All courts having jurisdiction under par. (a) or (b) have declined to exercise
9jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this state is the more appropriate forum to
10determine the custody of the child under s. 822.27 or 822.28.
SB112,12,1211 (d) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria
12specified in par. (a), (b), or (c).
SB112,12,14 13(2) Subsection (1) is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a child
14custody determination by a court of this state.
SB112,12,16 15(3) Physical presence of, or personal jurisdiction over, a party or a child is not
16necessary or sufficient to make a child custody determination.
SB112,12,20 17822.22 Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction. (1) Except as provided in s.
18822.24, a court of this state that has made a child custody determination consistent
19with s. 822.21 or 822.23 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the
20determination until any of the following occurs:
SB112,12,2421 (a) A court of this state determines that neither the child, nor the child and one
22parent, nor the child and a person acting as a parent have a significant connection
23with this state and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this state
24concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships.
SB112,13,3
1(b) A court of this state or a court of another state determines that the child,
2the child's parents, and all persons acting as parents do not presently reside in this
3state.
SB112,13,7 4(2) A court of this state that has made a child custody determination and that
5does not have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under this section may modify that
6determination only if it has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under s.
7822.21.
SB112,13,11 8822.23 Jurisdiction to modify determination. Except as provided in s.
9822.24, a court of this state may not modify a child custody determination made by
10a court of another state unless a court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial
11determination under s. 822.21 (1) (a) or (b) and one of the following applies:
SB112,13,14 12(1) The court of the other state determines that it no longer has exclusive,
13continuing jurisdiction under s. 822.22 or that a court of this state would be a more
14convenient forum under s. 822.27.
SB112,13,17 15(2) A court of this state or a court of the other state determines that the child,
16the child's parents, and all persons acting as parents do not presently reside in the
17other state.
SB112,13,22 18822.24 Temporary emergency jurisdiction. (1) A court of this state has
19temporary emergency jurisdiction if the child is present in this state and the child
20has been abandoned or it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because
21the child, or a sibling or parent of the child, is subjected to or threatened with
22mistreatment or abuse.
SB112,14,6 23(2) If there is no previous child custody determination that is entitled to be
24enforced under this chapter and a child custody proceeding has not been commenced
25in a court of a state having jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23, a child custody

1determination made under this section remains in effect until an order is obtained
2from a court of a state having jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23. If a child
3custody proceeding has not been or is not commenced in a court of a state having
4jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23, a child custody determination made under
5this section becomes a final determination, if it so provides and this state becomes
6the home state of the child.
SB112,14,14 7(3) If a previous child custody determination is entitled to be enforced under
8this chapter, or a child custody proceeding has been commenced in a court of a state
9having jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23, any order issued by a court of this
10state under this section shall specify in the order a period that the court considers
11adequate to allow the person seeking an order to obtain an order from the state
12having jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23. The order issued in this state remains
13in effect until an order is obtained from the other state within the period specified
14or until the period expires.
SB112,14,25 15(4) A court of this state that has been asked to make a child custody
16determination under this section, upon being informed that a child custody
17proceeding has been commenced in, or that a child custody determination has been
18made by, a court of a state having jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23, shall
19immediately communicate with the other court. A court of this state that is
20exercising jurisdiction under ss. 822.21 to 822.23, upon being informed that a child
21custody proceeding has been commenced in, or that a child custody determination
22has been made by, a court of another state under a statute similar to this section,
23shall immediately communicate with the court of that state to resolve the emergency,
24protect the safety of the parties and the child, and determine a period for the duration
25of the temporary order.
SB112,15,6
1822.25 Notice; opportunity to be heard; joinder. (1) Before a child custody
2determination is made under this chapter, notice and an opportunity to be heard in
3accordance with the standards of s. 822.08 shall be given to all persons entitled to
4notice under the law of this state as in child custody proceedings between residents
5of this state, any parent whose parental rights have not been previously terminated,
6and any person having physical custody of the child.
SB112,15,8 7(2) This chapter does not govern the enforceability of a child custody
8determination made without notice or an opportunity to be heard.
SB112,15,11 9(3) The obligation to join a party and the right to intervene as a party in a child
10custody proceeding under this chapter are governed by the law of this state as in child
11custody proceedings between residents of this state.
SB112,15,18 12822.26 Simultaneous proceedings. (1) Except as provided in s. 822.24, a
13court of this state may not exercise its jurisdiction under this subchapter if, at the
14time of the commencement of the proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody
15of the child has been commenced in a court of another state having jurisdiction
16substantially in conformity with this chapter, unless the proceeding has been
17terminated or is stayed by the court of the other state because a court of this state
18is a more convenient forum under s. 822.27.
SB112,16,2 19(2) Except as provided in s. 822.24, a court of this state, before hearing a child
20custody proceeding, shall examine the court documents and other information
21supplied by the parties under s. 822.29. If the court determines that a child custody
22proceeding has been commenced in a court in another state having jurisdiction
23substantially in accordance with this chapter, the court of this state shall stay its
24proceeding and communicate with the court of the other state. If the court of the state
25having jurisdiction substantially in accordance with this chapter does not determine

1that the court of this state is a more appropriate forum, the court of this state shall
2dismiss the proceeding.
SB112,16,6 3(3) In a proceeding to modify a child custody determination, a court of this state
4shall determine whether a proceeding to enforce the determination has been
5commenced in another state. If a proceeding to enforce a child custody determination
6has been commenced in another state, the court may do any of the following:
SB112,16,97 (a) Stay the proceeding for modification pending the entry of an order of a court
8of the other state enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing the proceeding for
9enforcement.
SB112,16,1010 (b) Enjoin the parties from continuing with the proceeding for enforcement.
SB112,16,1111 (c) Proceed with the modification under conditions it considers appropriate.
SB112,16,17 12822.27 Inconvenient forum. (1) A court of this state that has jurisdiction
13under this chapter to make a child custody determination may decline to exercise its
14jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the
15circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The
16issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon the motion of a party, the court's own
17motion, or the request of another court.
SB112,16,21 18(2) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this state
19shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to exercise
20jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information
21and shall consider all relevant factors, including all of the following:
SB112,16,2322 (a) Whether domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue in the
23future and which state could best protect the parties and the child.
SB112,16,2424 (b) The length of time that the child has resided outside this state.
SB112,17,2
1(c) The distance between the court in this state and the court in the state that
2would assume jurisdiction.
SB112,17,33 (d) The relative financial circumstances of the parties.
SB112,17,44 (e) Any agreement of the parties as to which state should assume jurisdiction.
SB112,17,65 (f) The nature and location of the evidence required to resolve the pending
6litigation, including testimony of the child.
SB112,17,87 (g) The ability of the court of each state to decide the issue expeditiously and
8the procedures necessary to present the evidence.
SB112,17,109 (h) The familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and issues in the
10pending litigation.
SB112,17,15 11(3) If a court of this state determines that it is an inconvenient forum and that
12a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, the court shall stay the
13proceedings upon condition that a child custody proceeding be promptly commenced
14in another designated state and may impose any other condition that the court
15considers just and proper.
SB112,17,19 16(4) A court of this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this
17chapter if a child custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or
18another proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other
19proceeding.
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