Interstate and International Child Custody and Support Lawyer in Sonoma County, California
Child custody and child support issues can be more complicated when the parents live in different counties, states, or nations. There may be legal questions as to which parent’s local court has the authority (“jurisdiction”) to make custody or support orders, or two courts may have made orders that are in conflict with one another. If you and your children’s other parent live in different geographic areas, you need an experienced attorney who understands how to determine which court has controlling authority and can help you reach your desired outcome.
At the Family Law Office of Carol A. Gorenberg we have the experience with these complex cases to answer your questions, take the proper procedural steps, and get you the help you need in these interjurisdictional cases.
Long Distance Child Custody Cases
Interstate and international jurisdiction of child custody cases are governed by a set of laws called the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act ("UCCJEA "). The UCCJEA provides an intricate “play book” to determine which court has the power to make and enforce child custody orders. These rules are designed to prevent two different state courts from making conflicting orders and to resolve such conflicts when they arise. We has worked with the UCCJEA many times to obtain, enforce, modify, or quash (terminate) child custody orders when the parents live under the jurisdiction of different courts.
When a foreign country is involved, additional laws also come into play. The Hague Convention on the International Abduction of Children and the United States Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (“PKPA ) may affect your rights or the other parent's rights regarding your children. Our expertise in these areas has been instrumental in helping our clients, protect their children and use the legal system to obtain orders that will best serve their children’s interests.
To see some examples of the kinds of cases we have worked on click here.
Interstate and International Child Support
Child support is governed by a different set of interstate laws, the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act ("UIFSA "). Child support agencies in each of the 50 states and many foreign countries are available to assist in obtaining and enforcing child support orders across state lines.
However, these agencies are busy bureaucracies, and often, a private attorney can be instrumental in helping you speed up the process and get the results you need, saving you many months of waiting with uncertainty for a new child support order. Our experience and perseverance has helped many clients through the sometimes frustrating process of using these laws and agencies. For examples of the types of results we have gotten for our clients, please click here.
If you and your children's other parent live in different states or countries, and you have a problem regarding child custody or child support, we can help you determine which state has jurisdiction, enforce your rights, or modify your orders. Contact us today to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss your situation with us.
Compassionate and Effective Representation.
Family Law Offices of Carol A. Gorenberg
2544 Cleveland Avenue
Suite 202
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
Toll Free: (866) 752-1761
Phone: (707) 623-1171
