19-9-21
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19-9-21.
(a)
The general purposes of this article are to:
(1)
Avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict by courts within this state in
matters of child custody, which have in the past resulted in the shifting of
children from county to county with harmful effects on their well-being;
(2)
Promote cooperation by the courts of this state, to the end that a custody
decree is rendered by the court which can best decide the case in the interest
of the child;
(3)
Assure that litigation concerning the custody of a child ordinarily takes place
in the court with which the child and his family have the closest connection and
where significant evidence concerning the care, protection, training, and
personal relationships of the child is most readily available and that courts of
this state decline the exercise of jurisdiction when the child and his family
have a closer connection with another court of this state;
(4)
Discourage continuing controversies over child custody, in the interest of
greatest stability of home environment and of secure family relationships for
the child;
(5)
Deter abductions and other unilateral removals of children undertaken to obtain
custody awards;
(6)
Avoid relitigation of custody decisions of other courts in this state insofar as
is feasible;
(7)
Facilitate the enforcement of custody decrees;
(8)
Make uniform the practice and procedure of the courts of this state in child
custody matters.
(b)
This article shall be construed to promote the general purposes stated in
subsection (a) of this Code section.