Florida Statutes
Fla. Stat. § 61.515 (2025)
Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction.
✓ 2025 Florida Statutes — current through the 2025 Regular Session
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61.515 Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction.—
(1) Except as otherwise provided in s. 61.517, a court of this state which has made a child custody determination consistent with s. 61.514 or s. 61.516 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until:
(a) A court of this state determines that the child, the child’s parents, and any person acting 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
(b) A court of this state or a court of another state determines that the child, the child’s parent, and any person acting as a parent do not presently reside in this state.
(2) A court of this state which 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 s. 61.514.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16
cases (5 in the last 5 years), 2005–2025 · leading case: Steckler v. Steckler, 921 So. 2d 740 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006).
Steckler v. Steckler, 921 So. 2d 740 (Fla. 5th DCA 2006). “The former wife argues that the federal full faith and credit statute preempts any conflicting Florida statutes, including section 61.515, Florida Statutes (2005), which grants Florida courts exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over its child custody decisions.”
Staats v. McKinnon, 206 S.W.3d 532 (Tenn. Ct. App. 2006). “…Scrutinizing the Escape Clause, 38 Fam. L.Q. 547 ; 560 (2004). 16 . Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 36-6-217 to -218, accord Fla. Stat. Ann. § 61.515 to 61.516; UCCJEA §§ 202-203, 9 U.L.A. at 673-74, 676. 17 . Tenn.Code Ann. §§ 36-6-226 to -241, accord Fla. Stat. Ann. §§ 61.524 to…”
Tidwell v. Tidwell, 983 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008). “*743 Although the parties were divorced in Florida, which final judgment provided for shared responsibility, the court determined that all parties had moved to South Carolina, and the court had lost exclusive jurisdiction under section 61.515, Florida Statutes. We affirm.”
Clay v. Burckle, 633 S.E.2d 173 (S.C. Ct. App. 2006). “Fla. Stat. 61.515 (2002). Clearly, 1(a) does not apply to the current situation because no Florida court has found that the *657 state lacks a significant connection with the parties.”
Scott v. Somers, 903 A.2d 663 (Conn. App. Ct. 2006). “” Fla. Stat. Ann. § 61.515 (1) (West 2005).”
Anthony T. Litsch, III Vs Julie Litsch n/k/a Julie Mills (Fla. 5th DCA 2023). “5 Appellee correctly asserts that the Florida court based its decision on more facts than merely the amount of time the child had been living in Illinois. The Florida court stated that Illinois was now the child’s home state, and Illinois assuming jurisdiction would serve the…”
Alexis Aluise & Andrew Aluise v. Glenda Spanos (Fla. 5th DCA 2025). “516, though, does not apply here, because jurisdiction transferred to Florida under section 61.515, Florida Statutes (2024). Under section 61.”
Parisi v. Niblett (Conn. App. Ct. 2020). “See generally Fla. Stat. Ann. § 61.515 (West 2002) (Florida’s version of § 46b-115l (a)).”
Patricia Marquez Sosa, Etc. v. Hector Gabriel Balzaga Pena (Fla. 3d DCA 2022). “The trial court denied part of the Mother’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction finding, notwithstanding the intervening dependency matter, Florida had continuing, 2 exclusive jurisdiction pursuant to section 61.515, Florida Statutes. The trial court reserved ruling on…”
Parisi v. Niblett (Conn. App. Ct. 2020). “The exclusive, continuing jurisdiction provision of Florida’s UCCJEA, Fla. Stat. Ann. § 61.515 ,12 which is substantially similar to § 46b-115l, provides in relevant part: ‘‘(1) .”
Dunaway v. Vasta, 193 So. 3d 745 (Ala. Civ. App. 2015). “See also Fla. Stat. § 61.515 . . See also Fla. Stat.”
Destefanis v. Tan (Fla. 3d DCA 2017). “Under section 61.515(1), the trial court in the instant case has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction to make child custody determinations until: (a) A court of this state determines that the child, the child’s parents, and any person acting as a parent do not have a…”
— 61.515(1) — 6 cases
Tidwell v. Tidwell, 983 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008). “*743 Although the parties were divorced in Florida, which final judgment provided for shared responsibility, the court determined that all parties had moved to South Carolina, and the court had lost exclusive jurisdiction under section 61.515, Florida Statutes. We affirm.”
Patricia Marquez Sosa, Etc. v. Hector Gabriel Balzaga Pena (Fla. 3d DCA 2022). “The trial court denied part of the Mother’s motion to dismiss for lack of jurisdiction finding, notwithstanding the intervening dependency matter, Florida had continuing, 2 exclusive jurisdiction pursuant to section 61.515, Florida Statutes. The trial court reserved ruling on…”
Anthony T. Litsch, III Vs Julie Litsch n/k/a Julie Mills (Fla. 5th DCA 2023). “5 Appellee correctly asserts that the Florida court based its decision on more facts than merely the amount of time the child had been living in Illinois. The Florida court stated that Illinois was now the child’s home state, and Illinois assuming jurisdiction would serve the…”
Alexis Aluise & Andrew Aluise v. Glenda Spanos (Fla. 5th DCA 2025). “516, though, does not apply here, because jurisdiction transferred to Florida under section 61.515, Florida Statutes (2024). Under section 61.”
Destefanis v. Tan (Fla. 3d DCA 2017). “Under section 61.515(1), the trial court in the instant case has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction to make child custody determinations until: (a) A court of this state determines that the child, the child’s parents, and any person acting as a parent do not have a…”
— 61.515(1)(a) — 1 case
Anthony T. Litsch, III Vs Julie Litsch n/k/a Julie Mills (Fla. 5th DCA 2023). “5 Appellee correctly asserts that the Florida court based its decision on more facts than merely the amount of time the child had been living in Illinois. The Florida court stated that Illinois was now the child’s home state, and Illinois assuming jurisdiction would serve the…”
— 61.515(1)(b) — 2 cases
Anthony T. Litsch, III Vs Julie Litsch n/k/a Julie Mills (Fla. 5th DCA 2023). “5 Appellee correctly asserts that the Florida court based its decision on more facts than merely the amount of time the child had been living in Illinois. The Florida court stated that Illinois was now the child’s home state, and Illinois assuming jurisdiction would serve the…”
Alexis Aluise & Andrew Aluise v. Glenda Spanos (Fla. 5th DCA 2025). “516, though, does not apply here, because jurisdiction transferred to Florida under section 61.515, Florida Statutes (2024). Under section 61.”
— 61.515(2) — 1 case
Tidwell v. Tidwell, 983 So. 2d 742 (Fla. 4th DCA 2008). “*743 Although the parties were divorced in Florida, which final judgment provided for shared responsibility, the court determined that all parties had moved to South Carolina, and the court had lost exclusive jurisdiction under section 61.515, Florida Statutes. We affirm.”
— 61.515(b) — 1 case
Destefanis v. Tan (Fla. 3d DCA 2017). “Under section 61.515(1), the trial court in the instant case has exclusive and continuing jurisdiction to make child custody determinations until: (a) A court of this state determines that the child, the child’s parents, and any person acting as a parent do not have a…”
— 61.515(l)(a) — 1 case
McCormick v. Oakes, 899 So. 2d 393 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005).
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