2020 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 14 - Domestic Matters
Article 13. Uniform Child-custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
Section 14-13-201. Initial child-custody jurisdiction.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in section 14-13-204, a court of this state has jurisdiction to make an initial child-custody determination only if:
This state is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of theproceeding, or was the home state of the child within one hundred eighty-two days before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this state but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this state;
A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under a provision of law adoptedby that state that is in substantial conformity with paragraph (a) of this subsection (1), or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this state is the more appropriate forum under a provision of law adopted by that state that is in substantial conformity with section 14-13-207 or 14-13-208, and:
The child and the child's parents, or the child and at least one parent or a personacting as a parent, have a significant connection with this state other than mere physical presence; and
Substantial evidence is available in this state concerning the child's care, protection,training, and personal relationships;
All courts having jurisdiction under a provision of law adopted by that state that is insubstantial conformity with paragraph (a) or (b) of this subsection (1) have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this state is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under a provision of law adopted by that state that is in substantial conformity with section 14-13-207 or 14-13-208; or
No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in aprovision of law adopted by that state that is in substantial conformity with paragraph (a), (b), or (c) of this subsection (1).
Subsection (1) of this section is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a childcustody determination by a court of this state.
Physical presence of, or personal jurisdiction over, a party or a child is not necessaryor sufficient to make a child-custody determination.
Source: L. 2000: Entire article R&RE, p. 1524, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2012: (1)(a) amended, (SB 12-175), ch. 208, p. 834, § 36, effective July 1.
Editor's note: This section is similar to former § 14-13-104 as it existed prior to 2000. 14-13-202. Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction. (1) Except as otherwise provided in section 14-13-204, a court of this state that has made a child-custody determination consistent with section 14-13-201 or 14-13-203 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until:
A court of this state determines that the child, the child's parents, and any personacting as a parent do not have a significant connection with this state and that substantial evidence is no longer available in this state concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relationships; or
A court of this state or a court of another state determines that the child, the child'sparents, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in this state.
(2) A court of this state that has made a child-custody determination and does not have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under this section may modify that determination only if it has jurisdiction to make an initial determination under section 14-13-201.
Source: L. 2000: Entire article R&RE, p. 1525, § 1, effective July 1.