“Who can help with an interstate or international child custody case?”

It is rare that a person stays in one city for his or her entire life. Some people may move for educational or work opportunities, while others may move simply to find a fresh start. It is not uncommon for people to move across the country for the right challenge. If these moves cause the end of a relationship, it can lead to serious problems if the couple shares minor children.

At Alongi Law Firm, we’ve helped many people caught in these complex situations. We will take the time to thoroughly examine your circumstances before you invest months and thousands of dollars fighting for child custody in the wrong place. We have extensive experience litigating across State lines under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (‘UCCJEA’). Our managing partner, Tom, has also represented clients with repeated success in both superior court and the U.S. District Court to resolve kidnapping concerns through the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Tom has also presented several seminars as a guest speaker on both sources of law, and he included the UCCJEA and Hague Convention as part of his core curriculum when he taught family law as an adjunct professor at Phoenix School of Law from 2009-12. The UCCJEA, in particular, is a common feature of family court, yet it represents an area of law routinely misread by parents, attorneys, and even some judges. (It’s not always about “Home State”, and the so-called “six-month rule” does not win every case!)

Apart from the challenge of ensuring that a case is presented in the correct venue (whether Arizona or elsewhere), the issue of child relocation itself is a sensitive and provocative issue. Nor is it just an interesting academic exercise. In the worst cases, when one parent is fleeing for personal safety and child protection, any mishandling of the relocation rules can result in real danger to real people. But even in more routine situations, qualified attorneys must understand not only the usual “child’s best interests” factors, but also possess a firm grasp of Arizona’s relocation statute (ARS § 25-408) and the complicated appellate case law that goes with it.

It is difficult to imagine another area of child custody litigation where getting it wrong can so permanently alter the course of a child’s life.

We will review your situation with skill and great care. This includes an essential investigation into the existence and validity of existing child custody decrees, as well as verification of where each family member has recently lived, for how long, and for what purpose. We also review the existing court papers (from all locations) to determine whether we, as an Arizona law firm, can urge an Arizona judge to intervene. This often requires us to collaborate with an ally who is licensed to practice in a different State, which can include scheduling a hearing to involve a judge in each location.

If you are looking for a law firm to guide you through these issues, make sure they offer more than a vague promise that they “know family law”. That’s not good enough. It should be a firm that possesses extensive, dedicated experience with both interstate child relocation and the UCCJEA.

We have those qualifications. Schedule an appointment, and we will help you!