Iowa Code » Chapter 598B — UNIFORM CHILD-CUSTODY JURISDICTION AND ENFORCEMENT
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 598B.202 (2026)

Exclusive, continuing jurisdiction

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.204, a court of this state which has made a child-custody determination consistent with section 598B.201 or 598B.203 has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination until any of the following occurs:

a. A court of this state determines that the child does not have, the child and one parent do not have, or the child and a 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.

b. A court of this state or a court of another state determines that the child, the child’s parents, 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 section 598B.201. 99 Acts, ch 103, §14 Referred to in §598B.203, 598B.204, 598B.208 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 13 cases (6 in the last 5 years), 2010–2024 · leading case: Stauffer v. Temperle, 794 N.W.2d 317 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010).
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Stauffer v. Temperle, 794 N.W.2d 317 (Iowa Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 11× “” Iowa Code § 598B.202 (“Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.”
White v. Harper, 807 N.W.2d 289 (Iowa Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “The court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202 or that a court of this state would be a more convenient forum under section 598B.”
In the Interest of K.L., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 13× “Because Texas claims jurisdiction, we must determine if Iowa courts have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202(1) which provides: Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.”
Jesse Lee McElroy v. Misty Jo Sheedy (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 10× “In particular, Jesse claims the district court erred by failing to recognize that it had “exclusive continuing jurisdiction” under section 598B.202. It provides, in relevant part: 1.”
In the Interest of C.H., S.H., & K.H., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 5× “But Iowa Code section 598B.202(1) provides “a court of this state which has made a child-custody determination” with “exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination” until a court of this state makes certain determinations otherwise.”
In the Interest of R.S. & D.S., Minor Child., A.C., Mother (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). · cites it 8× “The juvenile court’s jurisdiction to conduct the termination proceedings would normally require exclusive, continuing subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Iowa Code section 598B.202. See A.J., 2014 WL 2432381 , at *2 (concluding subject 7 matter jurisdiction over termination…”
In the Interest of A.J., E.J., & A.J., Minor Child. C.J., Father (Iowa Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 4× “204 [providing for “temporary emergency jurisdiction”], a court of this state has jurisdiction to 6 We conclude the juvenile court had exclusive continuing subject matter jurisdiction, pursuant to Iowa Code section 598B.202,9 to preside over and determine custody of the children…”
Cacie Elizabeth Lacroix, N/K/A Cacie Elizabeth Kramper v. Michael Anthony Verdoorn, A/K/A Michael Anthony Barnett, Appeal From & (Iowa Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “201(1)(a), and either (1) “[t]he court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202 or that the court of this state would be a more convenient forum” or (2) “[a] court of this state or a court of the other state…”
Bailey C. Robinson n/k/a Bailey C. Goodell v. Michael G. Gross, 918 N.W.2d 503 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “Nevertheless: A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this chapter 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…”
In the Interest of S.P., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 2× “203, Illinois, the state making the initial guardianship determination, had exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202. See White v. Harper, 807 N.”
Angela Victoria Hullman v. Bill Robert Richards (Iowa Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 2× “201, subsection 1, paragraph “a” or “b”, and either of the following applies: (1) The court of the other state determines it no longer has exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202 or that a court of this state would be a more convenient forum under section 598B.”
In re the Marriage of Gast & Sullivan (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “He also argues that the district court’s decision that it would not have continuing jurisdiction over future child-custody disputes because of Sullivan’s move to California, see Iowa Code § 598B.202(1)(a) (2021), violates his due-process rights.”
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— Iowa Code § 598B.202(1) — 4 cases
In the Interest of K.L., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “Because Texas claims jurisdiction, we must determine if Iowa courts have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202(1) which provides: Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.”
Bailey C. Robinson n/k/a Bailey C. Goodell v. Michael G. Gross, 918 N.W.2d 503 (Iowa Ct. App. 2018). “Nevertheless: A court of this state which has jurisdiction under this chapter 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…”
In the Interest of C.H., S.H., & K.H., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). “But Iowa Code section 598B.202(1) provides “a court of this state which has made a child-custody determination” with “exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination” until a court of this state makes certain determinations otherwise.”
Jesse Lee McElroy v. Misty Jo Sheedy (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). “In particular, Jesse claims the district court erred by failing to recognize that it had “exclusive continuing jurisdiction” under section 598B.202. It provides, in relevant part: 1.”
— Iowa Code § 598B.202(1)(a) — 4 cases
In the Interest of C.H., S.H., & K.H., Minor Child. (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). “But Iowa Code section 598B.202(1) provides “a court of this state which has made a child-custody determination” with “exclusive, continuing jurisdiction over the determination” until a court of this state makes certain determinations otherwise.”
Jesse Lee McElroy v. Misty Jo Sheedy (Iowa Ct. App. 2022). “In particular, Jesse claims the district court erred by failing to recognize that it had “exclusive continuing jurisdiction” under section 598B.202. It provides, in relevant part: 1.”
In re the Marriage of Gast & Sullivan (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “He also argues that the district court’s decision that it would not have continuing jurisdiction over future child-custody disputes because of Sullivan’s move to California, see Iowa Code § 598B.202(1)(a) (2021), violates his due-process rights.”
In the Interest of K.L., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “Because Texas claims jurisdiction, we must determine if Iowa courts have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202(1) which provides: Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.”
— Iowa Code § 598B.202(1)(b) — 2 cases
In the Interest of K.L., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “Because Texas claims jurisdiction, we must determine if Iowa courts have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202(1) which provides: Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.”
In the Interest of R.S. & D.S., Minor Child., A.C., Mother (Iowa Ct. App. 2015). “The juvenile court’s jurisdiction to conduct the termination proceedings would normally require exclusive, continuing subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to Iowa Code section 598B.202. See A.J., 2014 WL 2432381 , at *2 (concluding subject 7 matter jurisdiction over termination…”
— Iowa Code § 598B.202(b) — 1 case
In the Interest of K.L., Minor Child (Iowa Ct. App. 2024). “Because Texas claims jurisdiction, we must determine if Iowa courts have exclusive, continuing jurisdiction under section 598B.202(1) which provides: Except as otherwise provided in section 598B.”
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