General Laws of Massachusetts - Chapter 209B Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act

• Massachusetts General Laws - Definitions - Chapter 209B, Section 1
  As used in this chapter the following words, unless the context requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:— “Contestant”, a person who claims a legal...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Jurisdiction - Chapter 209B, Section 2
  (a) Any court which is competent to decide child custody matters has jurisdiction to make a custody determination by initial or modification judgment if: (1)...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Affidavits; contents; amendment; examination under oath; disclosure of addresses - Chapter 209B, Section 3
  (a) Every party in any custody proceeding shall state in an affidavit which shall be filed together with his first pleading the following information:— (1)...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Parties; joinder; service of process - Chapter 209B, Section 4
  (a) After examination of the pleadings, affidavits, certified copies of the documentation relative to other custody proceedings and such oral testimony as it may require,...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Notice and opportunity to be heard; proper parties - Chapter 209B, Section 5
  (a) Reasonable notice in conformity with section six and an opportunity to be heard shall be given to the contestants, to any parent whose parental...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Notice; nonresidents; proof of service - Chapter 209B, Section 6
  (a) Notice to a person in the commonwealth shall be given in accordance with the applicable Massachusetts rules of court or in such other manner...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Jurisdiction; determination of appropriate forum; factors - Chapter 209B, Section 7
  (a) A court which has jurisdiction pursuant to section two may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time prior to making a custody determination...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Personal appearance before court; expenses - Chapter 209B, Section 8
  (a) The court may order any party to the proceeding who is in the commonwealth to appear personally before the court. If that party has...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Testimony of witnesses outside state - Chapter 209B, Section 9
  In addition to other procedural devices available to a party, any party to the proceeding or a guardian ad litem or other representative of the...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Foreign courts; evidentiary hearings; transfer of information; orders to appear within state; expenses - Chapter 209B, Section 10
  (a) A court of the commonwealth may request the appropriate court of another state to hold a hearing to adduce evidence, to order a party...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Custody proceedings in foreign courts; evidentiary hearings within state; transfer of information; orders to appear in foreign court; expenses - Chapter 209B, Section 11
  (a) Upon request of the court of another state the courts of the commonwealth which are competent to hear custody matters may order a person...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Custody judgment of foreign state; filing within state; enforcement of judgment within state; expenses - Chapter 209B, Section 12
  (a) A certified copy of a custody judgment of another state may be filed in the office of the clerk or register of any court...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Preservation of record; time; copies - Chapter 209B, Section 13
  In any custody proceeding in the commonwealth the court shall preserve the pleadings, orders and judgments and any record that has been made of its...
• Massachusetts General Laws - International custody determinations; recognition - Chapter 209B, Section 14
  To the extent that the legal institutions of other nations have rendered custody determinations in substantial conformity with the provisions of this chapter, the courts...

Last modified: September 11, 2015