Interstate Custody Issues Webinar Series

The American Bar Association Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence in partnership with the Legal Resource Center on Violence Against Women (LRC), offered a three-part webinar series on interstate custody issues in December, 2019.

Part I : Should I Stay or Should I Go? Helping Survivors with Interstate Custody and Relocation Cases

• Presented by Deb Goelman, Darren Mitchell, and Taylor Duran  

Presentation on a basic training on interstate custody and domestic violence legal issues. This training provided attorneys with an introduction to interstate custody and domestic violence laws and practice. Participants learned about the various federal and state laws that govern interstate custody cases, with a focus on the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act [UCCJEA] and related laws. Case scenarios were used to demonstrate how attorneys can help survivors address the economic, safety and legal issues involved in interstate cases.

Part II: Using Jurisdictional Statutes to Assist Domestic Violence Survivors: Beyond the Basics

• Presented by Deb Goelman, Darren Mitchell, and Taylor Duran

Faculty presented a training on advanced interstate custody and domestic violence legal issues. This training built upon the foundation established in the LRC’s previous training programs. The training was appropriate for attorneys who have participated in a previous training program and/or who have some experience representing survivors in interstate custody cases. Among other topics, the training addressed the following jurisdictional issues: strategies for advising clients who are contemplating relocation; temporary absence (under the UCCJEA); emergency jurisdiction; cases involving children less than six months old; and continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in custody matters.

Part III: Helping Grantees Improve Services to Domestic Violence Survivors in Interstate Cases: Emerging Issues

• Presented by Deb Goelman, Darren Mitchell, and Taylor Duran

Faculty presented a training on emerging interstate custody and domestic violence legal issues. The training built upon the foundation established in the LRC’s previous training programs and addressed emerging issues for which attorneys have requested technical assistance. Among other topics, the training addressed the following: the relationship between civil protection orders that include custody provisions and custody orders that have been issued as part of a domestic relations case; subject matter and personal jurisdiction in protection order cases; state relocation laws; and requesting judicial communication in interstate cases.

Presentation and recorded materials not posted due to presenters's request. 

This project was supported by Grant No. 2018-TA-AX-K006 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women.