| The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and | | | | be uniformity in laws across state lines, they draft |
| Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is a piece of legislation | | | | Uniform Acts, which they make available to states to |
| designed to help provide an inter-state standard for | | | | adopt. The states are free to make small changes to |
| cases involving child custody, visitation, and parental | | | | the law. |
| kidnapping. Every parent's worst nightmare is to lose | | | | The UCCJEA was drafted in 1997 and began to be |
| their child, and for too long, it was far too easy for | | | | adopted by states shortly thereafter. As of 2010, 48 |
| custodial parents to move away with their child, | | | | states have accepted versions of the Act. The only |
| violating visitation rights and making it incredibly difficult | | | | two states which have not are Massachusetts and |
| for a non-custodial parent to ever see his or her child | | | | Vermont. |
| again. The UCCJEA was created in order to ensure | | | | Provisions |
| that parents and children maintain their relationship. | | | | The UCCJEA has a number of provisions which seek |
| History | | | | to bring uniformity to laws surrounding child custody |
| The UCCJEA was originally drawn up by the National | | | | and parental kidnapping, in order to make it easier for |
| Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State | | | | parents whose children have been unfairly taken |
| Laws, a national non-profit organization devoted to | | | | away from them by former spouses to get their |
| discussing and debating the importance of uniform | | | | children back. |
| state laws. When the group believes that there should | | | | |