ILCS » Chapter 750 · Act 36
Illinois Compiled Statutes

750 ILCS 36/207 (2026)

Inconvenient Forum

✓ current as of May 2026
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(750 ILCS 36/207)
    Sec. 207. Inconvenient Forum.
    (a) A court of this State which has jurisdiction under this Act to make a child-custody determination may decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any time if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum. The issue of inconvenient forum may be raised upon motion of a party, the court's own motion, or request of another court.
    (b) Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this State shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of another state to exercise jurisdiction. For this purpose, the court shall allow the parties to submit information and shall consider all relevant factors, including:
        (1) whether domestic violence has occurred and is
    
likely to continue in the future and which state could best protect the parties and the child;
        (2) the length of time the child has resided outside
    
this State;
        (3) the distance between the court in this State and
    
the court in the state that would assume jurisdiction;
        (4) the relative financial circumstances of the
    
parties;
        (5) any agreement of the parties as to which state
    
should assume jurisdiction;
        (6) the nature and location of the evidence required
    
to resolve the pending litigation, including testimony of the child;
        (7) the ability of the court of each state to decide
    
the issue expeditiously and the procedures necessary to present the evidence; and
        (8) the familiarity of the court of each state with
    
the facts and issues in the pending litigation.
    (c) If a court of this State determines that it is an inconvenient forum and that a court of another state is a more appropriate forum, it shall stay the proceedings upon condition that a child-custody proceeding be promptly commenced in another designated state and may impose any other condition the court considers just and proper.
    (d) A court of this State may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under this Act if a child-custody determination is incidental to an action for divorce or another proceeding while still retaining jurisdiction over the divorce or other proceeding.
(Source: P.A. 93-108, eff. 1-1-04.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2006–2025 · leading case: In re: Marriage of Horgan, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006).
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In re: Marriage of Horgan, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 5× “306(a)(2)), from an order of the circuit court declining jurisdiction over the issues regarding visitation between the parties and their minor child, and electing to allow the State of New York to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to the inconvenient-forum provision of the Uniform…”
Horgan v. Romans, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). · cites it 5× “306(a)(2)), from an order of the circuit court declining jurisdiction over the issues regarding visitation between the parties and their minor child, and electing to allow the State of New York to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to the inconvenient forum provision of the Uniform…”
In Re Sophia GL, 867 N.E.2d 1128 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 2× “the proceeding and the child is absent from th[e] State but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in th[e] State; (2) a court of another state does not have jurisdiction under paragraph (1), or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise…”
In re Marriage of Rickett, 2020 IL App (3d) 180657 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). · cites it 2× “See 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2018); see also Blanchard, 305 Ill.”
Cochran v. Lindeman, 371 Ill. App. 3d 833 (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 2× “the proceeding and the child is absent from th[e] State but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in th[e] State; (2) a court of another state does not have jurisdiction under paragraph (1), or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise…”
In re Parentage of M.A., 2025 IL App (1st) 232071-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). · cites it 4× “” 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2022). ¶ 45 Section 207(b) of the UCCJEA additionally instructs: “Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this State shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of - 11 - 1-23-2071 another state to exercise…”
Wilcox v. Davison, 2023 IL App (2d) 220335-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “-3- 2023 IL App (2d) 220335-U ¶ 10 Tiffany filed a request to stay the proceedings pending a conference with the New Jersey court to determine whether, pursuant to section 207 of the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (Act) (750 ILCS 36/207 (West 2020)), New…”
In re Marriage of Soman, 2023 IL App (1st) 220548-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “Even if the circuit court has jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, however, the court may decline to exercise such jurisdiction if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.”
In re Sophia G.L. (Ill. App. Ct. 2007). “and (B) substantial evidence is available in th[e] State concerning the child's care, protection, training, and personal relation- ships; (3) all courts having jurisdiction under paragraph (1) or (2) have declined to exer- cise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of th[e]…”
— 750 ILCS 36/207(a) — 5 cases
In re: Marriage of Horgan, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). “306(a)(2)), from an order of the circuit court declining jurisdiction over the issues regarding visitation between the parties and their minor child, and electing to allow the State of New York to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to the inconvenient-forum provision of the Uniform…”
Horgan v. Romans, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). “306(a)(2)), from an order of the circuit court declining jurisdiction over the issues regarding visitation between the parties and their minor child, and electing to allow the State of New York to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to the inconvenient forum provision of the Uniform…”
In re Marriage of Rickett, 2020 IL App (3d) 180657 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “See 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2018); see also Blanchard, 305 Ill.”
In re Marriage of Soman, 2023 IL App (1st) 220548-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2023). “Even if the circuit court has jurisdiction under the UCCJEA, however, the court may decline to exercise such jurisdiction if it determines that it is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and a court of another state is a more appropriate forum.”
In re Parentage of M.A., 2025 IL App (1st) 232071-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “” 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2022). ¶ 45 Section 207(b) of the UCCJEA additionally instructs: “Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this State shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of - 11 - 1-23-2071 another state to exercise…”
— 750 ILCS 36/207(b) — 2 cases
In re Marriage of Rickett, 2020 IL App (3d) 180657 (Ill. App. Ct. 2020). “See 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2018); see also Blanchard, 305 Ill.”
In re Parentage of M.A., 2025 IL App (1st) 232071-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “” 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2022). ¶ 45 Section 207(b) of the UCCJEA additionally instructs: “Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this State shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of - 11 - 1-23-2071 another state to exercise…”
— 750 ILCS 36/207(b)(5) — 2 cases
In re: Marriage of Horgan, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). “306(a)(2)), from an order of the circuit court declining jurisdiction over the issues regarding visitation between the parties and their minor child, and electing to allow the State of New York to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to the inconvenient-forum provision of the Uniform…”
Horgan v. Romans, 851 N.E.2d 209 (Ill. App. Ct. 2006). “306(a)(2)), from an order of the circuit court declining jurisdiction over the issues regarding visitation between the parties and their minor child, and electing to allow the State of New York to exercise jurisdiction pursuant to the inconvenient forum provision of the Uniform…”
— 750 ILCS 36/207(b)(6) — 1 case
In re Parentage of M.A., 2025 IL App (1st) 232071-U (Ill. App. Ct. 2025). “” 750 ILCS 36/207(a) (West 2022). ¶ 45 Section 207(b) of the UCCJEA additionally instructs: “Before determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court of this State shall consider whether it is appropriate for a court of - 11 - 1-23-2071 another state to exercise…”
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