The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act is a federal law that sets out the rules and procedures for determining which state has jurisdiction over child custody matters and how to enforce custody orders across state lines. The Act also provides for the recognition and enforcement of child custody orders from other states
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) is a Uniform Act drafted by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1997. The UCCJEA has since been adopted by 49 U.S. States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of 2026, the only state that has not adopted the UCCJEA is Massachusetts. The Massachusetts state senate passed the UCCJEA in July 2025, but the Massachusetts state house of representatives did not pass it by the end of the year.