Texas Codes

Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207 (2026)

Inconvenient Forum

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Sec. 152.207. INCONVENIENT FORUM. (a) 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 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, the court 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 chapter 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.

Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 34, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 59 cases (12 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.W.3d 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007).
Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.W.3d 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). · cites it 7× “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207 (Vernon 2002) (“A court of this state .”
In re Meekins, 550 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018). · cites it 6× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 (b)(1), (5), (7) (West 2014).”
Powell v. Stover, 165 S.W.3d 322 (Tex. 2005). · cites it 2× “Tex. Fam.Code § 152.207; see also Tenn.Code Ann.”
Dickerson v. Doyle, 170 S.W.3d 713 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). · cites it 5× “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 . The statute permits the court to make this determination “at any time” and the issue “may be raised upon motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.”
In re Alanis, 350 S.W.3d 322 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2011). · cites it 7× “See Tex. FamlCode Ann. § 152.207 (West 2008).”
Michael Lesem v. Liane Mouradian, 445 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013). · cites it 6× “” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207(a); Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.”
In re Burk, 252 S.W.3d 736 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2008). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam.Code §§ 152.207 and 152.208. For example, the home-state court can defer jurisdiction if the court is an inconvenient forum under the circumstances and a court in another state would provide a more appropriate forum.”
Jeanna Nicole Arnold v. Matthew Price, 365 S.W.3d 455 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011). · cites it 2× “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 152.207 , .208. Texas could not therefore exercise subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to section 152.”
Waltenburg v. Waltenburg, 270 S.W.3d 308 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). “” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207(a), (b) (Vernon 2002) (requiring information from parties and consideration of “all relevant factors,” including certain specific factors).”
in the Interest of T.B. & A.B., Child., 497 S.W.3d 640 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2016). “with Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 . Thus, a Florida home-state court utilizes the same eight nonexclusive factors set forth in section 152.”
In re Green, 352 S.W.3d 772 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2011). · cites it 2× “Without a proper motion presented to and ruled on by the trial court in accordance with Texas Family Code § 152.207, this court cannot grant mandamus relief on this basis.”
Hart v. Kozik, 242 S.W.3d 102 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2007). “Kozik asked the trial court to decline to exercise jurisdiction over Hart’s motion pursuant to Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207 (Vernon 2002).”
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(2002): 1 case
Ellithorp v. Ellithorp, 575 S.E.2d 94 (W. Va. 2002).
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(a): 17 cases
Dickerson v. Doyle, 170 S.W.3d 713 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 . The statute permits the court to make this determination “at any time” and the issue “may be raised upon motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.”
In re Meekins, 550 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 (b)(1), (5), (7) (West 2014).”
Waltenburg v. Waltenburg, 270 S.W.3d 308 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2008). “” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207(a), (b) (Vernon 2002) (requiring information from parties and consideration of “all relevant factors,” including certain specific factors).”
Jeanna Nicole Arnold v. Matthew Price, 365 S.W.3d 455 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2011). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 152.207 , .208. Texas could not therefore exercise subject matter jurisdiction pursuant to section 152.”
Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.W.3d 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207 (Vernon 2002) (“A court of this state .”
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(b): 12 cases
Michael Lesem v. Liane Mouradian, 445 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013). “” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207(a); Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.”
Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.W.3d 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207 (Vernon 2002) (“A court of this state .”
Dickerson v. Doyle, 170 S.W.3d 713 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 . The statute permits the court to make this determination “at any time” and the issue “may be raised upon motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.”
In re Meekins, 550 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 (b)(1), (5), (7) (West 2014).”
In re Custody of ANW, 798 N.E.2d 556 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003).
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(b)(1): 2 cases
Michael Lesem v. Liane Mouradian, 445 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013). “” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207(a); Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.”
In re Erica Nicole Minschke, No. 13-20-00508-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg May 7, 2021).
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(b)(2): 1 case
Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.W.3d 199 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2007). “See Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207 (Vernon 2002) (“A court of this state .”
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(b)(3): 1 case
In re Erica Nicole Minschke, No. 13-20-00508-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg May 7, 2021).
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(b)(5): 1 case
In the Interest of K.N., K.L., K.L., & K.L., Child., No. 24-0881, 2026 WL 1614378 (Tex. June 5, 2026).
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(b)(6): 1 case
In re Meekins, 550 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 (b)(1), (5), (7) (West 2014).”
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(c): 4 cases
Dickerson v. Doyle, 170 S.W.3d 713 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2005). “Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 . The statute permits the court to make this determination “at any time” and the issue “may be raised upon motion of a party, the court’s own motion, or request of another court.”
In re Meekins, 550 S.W.3d 729 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2018). “See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 152.207 (b)(1), (5), (7) (West 2014).”
in the Interest of D.T.C., No. 09-08-00388-CV (Tex. App.—Beaumont July 16, 2009).
in the Interest of J. S. M., No. 14-03-01351-CV (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] Mar. 4, 2004).
Tex. Fam. Code § 152.207(d): 3 cases
Michael Lesem v. Liane Mouradian, 445 S.W.3d 366 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013). “” Tex. Fam.Code Ann. § 152.207(a); Monk v. Pomberg, 263 S.”
Emmanuel C. Okonkwo v. Chinelo Joan Okonkwo, 365 S.W.3d 801 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2012).
Christopher Todd Rust v. Aslynn Tanis Rust, No. 04-17-00674-CV (Tex. App.—San Antonio Oct. 3, 2018).
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