For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) "Abandoned" means left without provision for reasonable and necessary care or supervision.
(2) "Child" means an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
(3) "Child-custody determination" means a judgment, decree, or other order of a court providing for the legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child. The term includes a permanent, temporary, initial, and modification order. The term does not include an order relating to child support or other monetary obligation of an individual.
(4) "Child-custody proceeding" means a proceeding in which legal custody, physical custody, or visitation with respect to a child is an issue. The term includes a proceeding for divorce, separation, neglect, abuse, dependency, guardianship, adoption, paternity, termination of parental rights, and protection from domestic violence, in which the issue may appear. The term does not include a proceeding involving juvenile delinquency, contractual emancipation, or enforcement under subchapter III of this chapter.
(5) "Commencement" means the filing of the first pleading in a proceeding.
(6) "Court" means an entity authorized under the law of a state to establish, enforce, or modify a child-custody determination.
(7) "District" means the District of Columbia.
(8) "Home state" means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child-custody proceeding. In the case of a child less than 6 months of age, the term means the state in which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. A period of temporary absence of any of the mentioned persons is part of the period.
(9) "Initial determination" means the first child-custody determination concerning a particular child.
(10) "Issuing court" means the court that makes a child-custody determination for which enforcement is sought under this chapter.
(11) "Issuing state" means the state in which a child-custody determination is made.
(12) "Modification" means a child-custody determination that changes, replaces, supersedes, or is otherwise made after a previous determination concerning the same child, whether or not it is made by the court that made the previous determination.
(13) "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.
(14) "Person acting as a parent" means a person, other than a parent, who:
(A) Has physical custody of the child or has had physical custody for a period of 6 consecutive months, including any temporary absence, within one year immediately before the commencement of a child-custody proceeding; and
(B) Has been awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to legal custody under the law of the District.
(15) "Physical custody" means the physical care and supervision of a child.
(16) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
(17) "Warrant" means an order issued by a court authorizing law enforcement officers to take physical custody of a child.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 165-4501.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 102 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
This chapter does not govern a proceeding pertaining to the authorization of emergency medical care for a child.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 103 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
A child-custody proceeding that pertains to an Indian child as defined in the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, approved November 8, 1978 (92 Stat. 3069; 25 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq.), is not subject to this chapter to the extent that it is governed by the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 104 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A court of the District shall treat a foreign country as if it were a state of the United States for the purpose of applying subchapters I and II of this chapter.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a child-custody determination made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in substantial conformity with the jurisdictional standards of this chapter must be recognized and enforced under subchapter III of this chapter.
(c) A court of the District need not apply this chapter if the child custody law of a foreign country violates fundamental principles of human rights.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 105 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
A child-custody determination made by a court of the District that had jurisdiction under this chapter binds all persons who have been served in accordance with the laws of the District or notified in accordance with section 16-4601.07 or who have submitted to the jurisdiction of the court, and who have been given an opportunity to be heard. As to those persons, the determination is conclusive as to all decided issues of law and fact except to the extent the determination is modified.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 106 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under this chapter is raised in a child-custody proceeding, the question, upon request of a party, must be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 107 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) Notice required for the exercise of jurisdiction when a person is outside the District may be given in a manner prescribed by the law of the District for service of process or by the law of the state in which the service is made. Notice must be given in a manner reasonably calculated to give actual notice, but may be by publication if other means are not effective.
(b) Proof of service may be made in the manner prescribed by the law of the District or by the law of the state in which the service is made.
(c) Notice is not required for the exercise of jurisdiction with respect to a person who submits to the jurisdiction of the court.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 108 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A party to a child-custody proceeding, including a modification proceeding, or a petitioner or respondent in a proceeding to enforce or register a child-custody determination, is not subject to personal jurisdiction in the District for another proceeding or purpose solely by reason of having participated, or of having been physically present for the purpose of participating, in the proceeding.
(b) A person who is subject to personal jurisdiction in the District on a basis other than physical presence is not immune from service of process in the District. A party present in the District who is subject to the jurisdiction of another state is not immune from service of process allowable under the laws of that state.
(c) The immunity granted by subsection (a) of this section does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to the participation in a proceeding under this chapter committed by an individual while present in the District.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 109 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A court of the District may communicate with a court in another state concerning a proceeding arising under this chapter.
(b) The court may allow the parties to participate in the communication. If the parties are not able to participate in the communication, they must be given the opportunity to present facts and legal arguments before a decision on jurisdiction is made.
(c) Communication between courts on schedules, calendars, court records, and similar matters may occur without informing the parties. A record need not be made of the communication.
(d) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this section, a record must be made of a communication under this section. The parties must be informed promptly of the communication and granted access to the record.
(e) For the purposes of this section, the term "record" means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 110 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) In addition to other procedures available to a party, a party to a child-custody proceeding may offer testimony of witnesses who are located in another state, including testimony of the parties and the child, by deposition or other means allowable in the District for testimony taken in another state. The court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a person be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the testimony is taken.
(b) A court of the District may permit an individual residing in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means before a designated court or at another location in that state. A court of the District shall cooperate with courts of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(c) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a court of the District by technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 111 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
(a) A court of the District may request the appropriate court of another state to:
(1) Hold an evidentiary hearing;
(2) Order a person to produce or give evidence pursuant to procedures of that state;
(3) Order that an evaluation be made with respect to the custody of a child involved in a pending proceeding;
(4) Forward to the court of the District a certified copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented, and any evaluation prepared in compliance with the request; and
(5) Order a party to a child-custody proceeding or any person having physical custody of the child to appear in the proceeding, with or without the child.
(b) Upon request of a court of another state, a court of the District may hold a hearing or enter an order described in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under subsections (a) and (b) of this section may be assessed against the parties according to the law of the District.
(d) A court of the District shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a child-custody proceeding until the child attains 18 years of age. Upon appropriate request by a court or law enforcement official of another state, the court shall forward a certified copy of those records.
(Apr. 27, 2001, D.C. Law 13-293, § 2(d), 48 DCR 2214.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Legislative History of Laws
For D.C. Law 13-293, see notes following § 16-4601.01.
Uniform Law
This section is based upon § 112 of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (1997 Act). See 9, Part IA, Uniform Laws Annotated, Master Edition, or ULA Database on Westlaw.
