Session of 1999
SENATE BILL No. 382
By Special Committee on Judiciary
12-15
9 AN ACT enacting
the uniform child-custody jurisdiction and enforce-
10 ment act; amending
K.S.A. 38-1503, 59-2128, 60-1604, 60-1605 and
11 60-1611 and K.S.A.
1999 Supp. 59-3009, 60-1610 and 60-3103 and
12 repealing the existing
sections; also repealing K.S.A. 38-1301 through
13 38-1326 and
38-1335.
14
15 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the
State of Kansas:
16 New Section
1. (UCCJEA 101). This act may be cited as the uniform
17 child-custody jurisdiction and enforcement
act.
18 New Sec.
2. (UCCJEA 102). In this act:
19 (1) "Abandoned"
means left without provision for reasonable and
20 necessary care or supervision.
21 (2) "Child" means
an individual who has not attained 18 years of age.
22
(3) "Child-custody determination" means a judgment, decree,
or
23 other order of a court providing for the
legal custody, physical custody,
24 or visitation with respect to a child. The
term includes a permanent,
25 temporary, initial, and modification order.
The term does not include an
26 order relating to child support or other
monetary obligation of an
27 individual.
28
(4) "Child-custody proceeding" means a proceeding in which
legal
29 custody, physical custody, or visitation
with respect to a child is an issue.
30 The term includes a proceeding for divorce,
separation, neglect, abuse,
31 dependency, guardianship, paternity,
termination of parental rights, and
32 protection from domestic violence, in which
the issue may appear. The
33 term does not include a proceeding
involving juvenile delinquency, con-
34 tractual emancipation, or enforcement under
sections 23 through 39 and
35 amendments thereto.
36
(5) "Commencement" means the filing of the first pleading in
a
37 proceeding.
38 (6) "Court" means
an entity authorized under the law of a state to
39 establish, enforce, or modify a
child-custody determination.
40 (7) "Home state"
means the state in which a child lived with a parent
41 or a person acting as a parent for at least
six consecutive months imme-
42 diately before the commencement of a
child-custody proceeding. In the
43 case of a child less than six months of
age, the term means the state in
2
1 which the child lived from birth with
any of the persons mentioned. A
2 period of temporary absence of any of
the mentioned persons is part of
3 the period.
4
(8) "Initial determination" means the first child-custody
determina-
5 tion concerning a particular
child.
6
(9) "Issuing court" means the court that makes a child-custody
de-
7 termination for which enforcement is
sought under this act.
8
(10) "Issuing state" means the state in which a child-custody
deter-
9 mination is made.
10
(11) "Modification" means a child-custody determination
that
11 changes, replaces, supersedes, or is
otherwise made after a previous de-
12 termination concerning the same child,
whether or not it is made by the
13 court that made the previous
determination.
14 (12) "Person"
means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate,
15 trust, partnership, limited liability
company, association, joint venture,
16 government; governmental subdivision,
agency, or instrumentality; public
17 corporation; or any other legal or
commercial entity.
18 (13) "Person
acting as a parent" means a person, other than a parent,
19 who:
20 (A) Has physical
custody of the child or has had physical custody for
21 period of six consecutive months, including
any temporary absence,
22 within one year immediately before the
commencement of a child-cus-
23 tody proceeding; and
24 (B) has been
awarded legal custody by a court or claims a right to
25 legal custody under the law of this
state.
26 (14) "Physical
custody" means the physical care and supervision of a
27 child.
28 (15) "State"
means a state of the United States, the District of Co-
29 lumbia, Puerto Rico, the United States
Virgin Islands, or any territory or
30 insular possession subject to the
jurisdiction of the United States.
31 (16) "Tribe"
means an Indian tribe or band, or Alaskan Native village,
32 which is recognized by federal law or
formally acknowledged by a state.
33 (17) "Warrant"
means an order issued by a court authorizing law
34 enforcement officers to take physical
custody of a child.
35 New Sec.
3. (UCCJEA 103). This act does not govern an adoption
36 proceeding or a proceeding pertaining to
the authorization of emergency
37 medical care for a child. Jurisdiction for
adoptions shall be governed by
38 K.S.A. 59-2127, and amendments thereto.
39 New Sec.
4. (UCCJEA 104). (a) A child-custody proceeding that per-
40 tains to an Indian child as defined in the
Indian Child Welfare Act, 25
41 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq., is not subject
to this act to the extent that it
42 is governed by the Indian Child Welfare
Act.
43 (b) A court of
this state shall treat a tribe as if it were a state of the
3
1 United States for the purpose of
applying sections 1 through 22 and
2 amendments thereto.
3 (c) A
child-custody determination made by a tribe under factual cir-
4 cumstances in substantial conformity
with the jurisdictional standards of
5 this act must be recognized and
enforced under sections 23 through 39
6 and amendments thereto.
7 New Sec.
5. (UCCJEA 105). (a) A court of this state shall treat a
8 foreign country as if it were a state
of the United States for the purpose
9 of applying sections 1 through 22 and
amendments thereto.
10 (b) Except as
otherwise provided in subsection (c), a child-custody
11 determination made in a foreign country
under factual circumstances in
12 substantial conformity with the
jurisdictional standards of this act must
13 be recognized and enforced under sections
23 through 39 and amend-
14 ments thereto.
15 (c) A court of
this state need not apply this act if the child custody
16 law of a foreign country violates
fundamental principles of human rights.
17 New Sec.
6. (UCCJEA 106). A child-custody determination made by
18 a court of this state that had jurisdiction
under this act binds all persons
19 who have been served in accordance with the
laws of this state or notified
20 in accordance with section 8 and amendments
thereto, or who have sub-
21 mitted to the jurisdiction of the court,
and who have been given an op-
22 portunity to be heard. As to those persons,
the determination is conclusive
23 as to all decided issues of law and fact
except to the extent the determi-
24 nation is modified.
25 New Sec.
7. (UCCJEA 107). If a question of existence or exercise of
26 jurisdiction under this act is raised in a
child-custody proceeding, the
27 question, upon request of a party, must be
given priority on the calendar
28 and handled expeditiously.
29 New Sec.
8. (UCCJEA 108). (a) Notice required for the exercise of
30 jurisdiction when a person is outside this
state may be given in a manner
31 prescribed by the law of this state for
service of process or by the law of
32 the state in which the service is made.
Notice must be given in a manner
33 reasonably calculated to give actual notice
but may be by publication if
34 other means are not effective.
35 (b) Proof of
service may be made in the manner prescribed by the
36 law of this state or by the law of the
state in which the service is made.
37 (c) Notice is not
required for the exercise of jurisdiction with respect
38 to a person who submits to the jurisdiction
of the court.
39 New Sec.
9. (UCCJEA 109). (a) A party to a child-custody proceed-
40 ing, including a modification proceeding,
or a petitioner or respondent in
41 a proceeding to enforce or register a
child-custody determination, is not
42 subject to personal jurisdiction in this
state for another proceeding or
43 purpose solely by reason of having
participated, or of having been phys-
4
1 ically present for the purpose of
participating, in the proceeding.
2 (b) A
person who is subject to personal jurisdiction in this state on
a
3 basis other than physical presence is
not immune from service of process
4 in this state. A party present in
this state who is subject to the jurisdiction
5 of another state is not immune from
service of process allowable under
6 the laws of that state.
7 (c) The
immunity granted by subsection (a) does not extend to civil
8 litigation based on acts unrelated to
the participation in a proceeding
9 under this act committed by an
individual while present in this state.
10 New Sec.
10. (UCCJEA 110). (a) A court of this state may commu-
11 nicate with a court in another state
concerning a proceeding arising under
12 this act.
13 (b) The court may
allow the parties to participate in the communi-
14 cation. If the parties are not able to
participate in the communication,
15 they must be given the opportunity to
present facts and legal arguments
16 before a decision on jurisdiction is
made.
17 (c) Communication
between courts on schedules, calendars, court
18 records, and similar matters may occur
without informing the parties. A
19 record need not be made of the
communication.
20 (d) Except as
otherwise provided in subsection (c), a record must be
21 made of a communication under this section.
The parties must be in-
22 formed promptly of the communication and
granted access to the record.
23 (e) For the purposes
of this section, "record" means information that
24 is inscribed on a tangible medium or that
is stored in an electronic or
25 other medium and is retrievable in
perceivable form.
26 New Sec.
11. (UCCJEA 111). (a) In addition to other procedures
27 available to a party, a party to a
child-custody proceeding may offer tes-
28 timony of witnesses who are located in
another state, including testimony
29 of the parties and the child, by deposition
or other means allowable in
30 this state for testimony taken in another
state. The court on its own mo-
31 tion may order that the testimony of a
person be taken in another state
32 and may prescribe the manner in which and
the terms upon which the
33 testimony is taken.
34 (b) A court of
this state may permit an individual residing in another
35 state to be deposed or to testify by
telephone, audiovisual means, or other
36 electronic means before a designated court
or at another location in that
37 state. A court of this state shall
cooperate with courts of other states in
38 designating an appropriate location for the
deposition or testimony.
39 (c) Documentary
evidence transmitted from another state to a court
40 of this state by technological means that
do not produce an original writing
41 may not be excluded from evidence on an
objection based on the means
42 of transmission.
43 New Sec.
12. (UCCJEA 112). (a) A court of this state may request
5
1 the appropriate court of another
state to:
2 (1) Hold an
evidentiary hearing;
3 (2) order a
person to produce or give evidence pursuant to proce-
4 dures of that state;
5 (3) order
that an evaluation be made with respect to the custody of
6 a child involved in a pending
proceeding;
7 (4) forward
to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript
8 of the record of the hearing, the
evidence otherwise presented, and any
9 evaluation prepared in compliance
with the request; and
10 (5) order a party
to a child-custody proceeding or any person having
11 physical custody of the child to appear in
the proceeding with or without
12 the child.
13 (b) Upon request
of a court of another state, a court of this state may
14 hold a hearing or enter an order described
in subsection (a).
15 (c) Travel and
other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred un-
16 der subsections (a) and (b) may be assessed
against the parties according
17 to the law of this state.
18 (d) A court of
this state shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees,
19 records of hearings, evaluations, and other
pertinent records with respect
20 to a child-custody proceeding until the
child attains 18 years of age. Upon
21 appropriate request by a court or law
enforcement official of another
22 state, the court shall forward a certified
copy of those records.
23 New Sec.
13. (UCCJEA 201). (a) Except as otherwise provided in
24 section 16 and amendments thereto, a court
of this state has jurisdiction
25 to make an initial child-custody
determination only if:
26 (1) This state is
the home state of the child on the date of the com-
27 mencement of the proceeding, or was the
home state of the child within
28 six months before the commencement of the
proceeding and the child is
29 absent from this state but a parent or
person acting as a parent continues
30 to live in this state;
31 (2) a court of
another state does not have jurisdiction under para-
32 graph (1), or a court of the home state of
the child has declined to exercise
33 jurisdiction on the ground that this state
is the more appropriate forum
34 under section 19 or 20 and amendments
thereto, and:
35 (A) The child and
the child's parents, or the child and at least one
36 parent or a person acting as a parent, have
a significant connection with
37 this state other than mere physical
presence; and
38 (B) substantial
evidence is available in this state concerning the child's
39 care, protection, training, and personal
relationships;
40 (3) all courts
having jurisdiction under paragraph (1) or (2) have de-
41 clined to exercise jurisdiction on the
ground that a court of this state is
42 the more appropriate forum to determine the
custody of the child under
43 section 19 or 20 and amendments thereto;
or
6
1 (4) no
court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the
2 criteria specified in paragraph (1),
(2), or (3).
3
(b) Subsection (a) is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for
making a
4 child-custody determination by a
court of this state.
5
(c) Physical presence of, or personal jurisdiction over, a
party or a
6 child is not necessary or sufficient
to make a child-custody determination.
7 New Sec.
14. (UCCJEA 202). (a) Except as otherwise provided in
8 section 16 and amendments thereto, a
court of this state which has made
9 a child-custody determination
consistent with section 13 or 15 and
10 amendments thereto, has exclusive,
continuing jurisdiction over the de-
11 termination until:
12 (1) A court of
this state determines that neither the child, the child's
13 parents, and any person acting as a parent
do not have a significant con-
14 nection with this state and that
substantial evidence is no longer available
15 in this state concerning the child's care,
protection, training, and personal
16 relationships; or
17 (2) a court of
this state or a court of another state determines that
18 the child, the child's parents, and any
person acting as a parent do not
19 presently reside in this state.
20 (b) A court of
this state which has made a child-custody determina-
21 tion and does not have exclusive,
continuing jurisdiction under this section
22 may modify that determination only if it
has jurisdiction to make an initial
23 determination under section 13 and
amendments thereto.
24 New Sec.
15. (UCCJEA 203). Except as otherwise provided in sec-
25 tion 16 and amendments thereto, a court of
this state may not modify a
26 child-custody determination made by a court
of another state unless a
27 court of this state has jurisdiction to
make an initial determination under
28 subsection (a)(1) or (2) of section 13 and
amendments thereto, and:
29 (1) The court of
the other state determines it no longer has exclusive,
30 continuing jurisdiction under section 14
and amendments thereto, or that
31 a court of this state would be a more
convenient forum under section 19
32 and amendments thereto; or
33 (2) a court of
this state or a court of the other state determines that
34 the child, the child's parents, and any
person acting as a parent do not
35 presently reside in the other state.
36 New Sec.
16. (UCCJEA 204). (a) A court of this state has temporary
37 emergency jurisdiction if the child is
present in this state and the child
38 has been abandoned or it is necessary in an
emergency to protect the
39 child because the child, or a sibling or
parent of the child, is subjected to
40 or threatened with mistreatment or
abuse.
41 (b) If there is
no previous child-custody determination that is entitled
42 to be enforced under this act and a
child-custody proceeding has not been
43 commenced in a court of a state having
jurisdiction under sections 13
7
1 through 15 and amendments thereto, a
child-custody determination made
2 under this section remains in effect
until an order is obtained from a
3 court of a state having jurisdiction
under sections 13 through 15 and
4 amendments thereto. If a
child-custody proceeding has not been or is not
5 commenced in a court of a state
having jurisdiction under sections 13
6 through 15 and amendments thereto, a
child-custody determination made
7 under this section becomes a final
determination, if it so provides and
8 this state becomes the home state of
the child.
9 (c) If
there is a previous child-custody determination that is
entitled
10 to be enforced under this act, or a
child-custody proceeding has been
11 commenced in a court of a state having
jurisdiction under sections 13
12 through 15 and amendments thereto, any
order issued by a court of this
13 state under this section must specify in
the order a period that the court
14 considers adequate to allow the person
seeking an order to obtain an
15 order from the state having jurisdiction
under sections 13 through 15 and
16 amendments thereto. The order issued in
this state remains in effect until
17 an order is obtained from the other state
within the period specified or
18 the period expires.
19 (d) A court of
this state which has been asked to make a child-custody
20 determination under this section, upon
being informed that a child-cus-
21 tody proceeding has been commenced in, or a
child-custody determina-
22 tion has been made by, a court of a state
having jurisdiction under sections
23 13 through 15 and amendments thereto, shall
immediately communicate
24 with the other court. A court of this state
which is exercising jurisdiction
25 pursuant to sections 13 through 15 and
amendments thereto, upon being
26 informed that a child-custody proceeding
has been commenced in, or a
27 child-custody determination has been made
by, a court of another state
28 under a statute similar to this section
shall immediately communicate with
29 the court of that state to resolve the
emergency, protect the safety of the
30 parties and the child, and determine a
period for the duration of the
31 temporary order.
32 New Sec.
17. (UCCJEA 205). (a) Before a child-custody determi-
33 nation is made under this act, notice and
an opportunity to be heard in
34 accordance with the standards of section 8
and amendments thereto, must
35 be given to all persons entitled to notice
under the law of this state as in
36 child-custody proceedings between residents
of this state, any parent
37 whose parental rights have not been
previously terminated, and any per-
38 son having physical custody of the
child.
39 (b) This act does
not govern the enforceability of a child-custody de-
40 termination made without notice or an
opportunity to be heard.
41 (c) The obligation to
join a party and the right to intervene as a party
42 in a child-custody proceeding under this
act are governed by the law of
43 this state as in child-custody proceedings
between residents of this state.
8
1 New Sec.
18. (UCCJEA 206). (a) Except as otherwise provided in
2 section 16 and amendments thereto, a
court of this state may not exercise
3 its jurisdiction under sections 13
through 22 and amendments thereto if,
4 at the time of the commencement of
the proceeding, a proceeding con-
5 cerning the custody of the child has
been commenced in a court of an-
6 other state having jurisdiction
substantially in conformity with this act,
7 unless the proceeding has been
terminated or is stayed by the court of
8 the other state because a court of
this state is a more convenient forum
9 under section 19 and amendments
thereto.
10 (b) Except as
otherwise provided in section 16 and amendments
11 thereto, a court of this state, before
hearing a child-custody proceeding,
12 shall examine the court documents and other
information supplied by the
13 parties pursuant to section 21 and
amendments thereto. If the court de-
14 termines that a child-custody proceeding
has been commenced in a court
15 in another state having jurisdiction
substantially in accordance with this
16 act, the court of this state shall stay its
proceeding and communicate with
17 the court of the other state. If the court
of the state having jurisdiction
18 substantially in accordance with this act
does not determine that the court
19 of this state is a more appropriate forum,
the court of this state shall
20 dismiss the proceeding.
21 (c) In a
proceeding to modify a child-custody determination, a court
22 of this state shall determine whether a
proceeding to enforce the deter-
23 mination has been commenced in another
state. If a proceeding to en-
24 force a child-custody determination has
been commenced in another
25 state, the court may:
26 (1) Stay the
proceeding for modification pending the entry of an or-
27 der of a court of the other state
enforcing, staying, denying, or dismissing
28 the proceeding for enforcement;
29 (2) enjoin the
parties from continuing with the proceeding for en-
30 forcement; or
31 (3) proceed with
the modification under conditions it considers
32 appropriate.
33 New Sec.
19. (UCCJEA 207). (a) A court of this state which has
34 jurisdiction under this act to make a
child-custody determination may
35 decline to exercise its jurisdiction at any
time if it determines that it is an
36 inconvenient forum under the circumstances
and that a court of another
37 state is a more appropriate forum. The
issue of inconvenient forum may
38 be raised upon motion of a party, the
court's own motion, or request of
39 another court.
40 (b) Before
determining whether it is an inconvenient forum, a court
41 of this state shall consider whether it is
appropriate for a court of another
42 state to exercise jurisdiction. For this
purpose, the court shall allow the
43 parties to submit information and shall
consider all relevant factors,
9
1 including:
2 (1) Whether
domestic violence has occurred and is likely to continue
3 in the future and which state could
best protect the parties and the child;
4 (2) the
length of time the child has resided outside this state;
5 (3) the
distance between the court in this state and the court in the
6 state that would assume
jurisdiction;
7 (4) the
relative financial circumstances of the parties;
8 (5) any
agreement of the parties as to which state should assume
9 jurisdiction;
10 (6) the nature
and location of the evidence required to resolve the
11 pending litigation, including testimony of
the child;
12 (7) the ability
of the court of each state to decide the issue expedi-
13 tiously and the procedures necessary to
present the evidence; and
14 (8) the
familiarity of the court of each state with the facts and
issues
15 in the pending litigation.
16 (c) If a court of
this state determines that it is an inconvenient forum
17 and that a court of another state is a more
appropriate forum, it shall stay
18 the proceedings upon condition that a
child-custody proceeding be
19 promptly commenced in another designated
state and may impose any
20 other condition the court considers just
and proper.
21 (d) A court of
this state may decline to exercise its jurisdiction under
22 this act if a child-custody determination
is incidental to an action for
23 divorce or another proceeding while still
retaining jurisdiction over the
24 divorce or other proceeding.
25 New Sec.
20. (UCCJEA 208). (a) Except as otherwise provided in
26 section 16 and amendments thereto or by
other law of this state, if a court
27 of this state has jurisdiction under this
act because a person seeking to
28 invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in
unjustifiable conduct, the court shall
29 decline to exercise its jurisdiction
unless:
30 (1) The parents
and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in
31 the exercise of jurisdiction;
32 (2) a court of
the state otherwise having jurisdiction under sections
33 13 through 15 and amendments thereto,
determines that this state is a
34 more appropriate forum under section 19 and
amendments thereto; or
35 (3) no court of
any other state would have jurisdiction under the
36 criteria specified in sections 13 through
15 and amendments thereto.
37 (b) If a court of
this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction pursuant
38 to subsection (a), it may fashion an
appropriate remedy to ensure the
39 safety of the child and prevent a
repetition of the unjustifiable conduct,
40 including staying the proceeding until a
child-custody proceeding is com-
41 menced in a court having jurisdiction under
sections 13 through 15 and
42 amendments thereto.
43 (c) If a court
dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it
10
1 declines to exercise its jurisdiction
pursuant to subsection (a), it shall
2 assess against the party seeking to
invoke its jurisdiction necessary and
3 reasonable expenses including costs,
communication expenses, attorney
4 fees, investigative fees, expenses
for witnesses, travel expenses, and child
5 care during the course of the
proceedings, unless the party from whom
6 fees are sought establishes that the
assessment would be clearly inappro-
7 priate. The court may not assess
fees, costs, or expenses against this state
8 unless authorized by law other than
this act.
9 New Sec.
21. (UCCJEA 209). (a) Subject to subsection (e), in a
child-
10 custody proceeding, each party, in its
first pleading or in an attached
11 affidavit, shall give information, if
reasonably ascertainable, under oath as
12 to the child's present address or
whereabouts, the places where the child
13 has lived during the last five years, and
the names and present addresses
14 of the persons with whom the child has
lived during that period. The
15 pleading or affidavit must state whether
the party:
16 (1) Has
participated, as a party or witness or in any other capacity,
in
17 any other proceeding concerning the custody
of or visitation with the child
18 and, if so, identify the court, the case
number, and the date of the child-
19 custody determination, if any;
20 (2) knows of any
proceeding that could affect the current proceeding,
21 including proceedings for enforcement and
proceedings relating to do-
22 mestic violence, protective orders,
termination of parental rights, and
23 adoptions and, if so, identify the court,
the case number, and the nature
24 of the proceeding; and
25 (3) knows the
names and addresses of any person not a party to the
26 proceeding who has physical custody of the
child or claims rights of legal
27 custody or physical custody of, or
visitation with, the child and, if so, the
28 names and addresses of those persons.
29 (b) If the
information required by subsection (a) is not furnished, the
30 court, upon motion of a party or its own
motion, may stay the proceeding
31 until the information is furnished.
32 (c) If the
declaration as to any of the items described in subsection
33 (a)(1) through (3) is in the affirmative,
the declarant shall give additional
34 information under oath as required by the
court. The court may examine
35 the parties under oath as to details of the
information furnished and other
36 matters pertinent to the court's
jurisdiction and the disposition of the
37 case.
38 (d) Each party
has a continuing duty to inform the court of any pro-
39 ceeding in this or any other state that
could affect the current proceeding.
40 (e) If a party
alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the
41 health, safety, or liberty of a party or
child would be jeopardized by dis-
42 closure of identifying information, the
information must be sealed and
43 may not be disclosed to the other party or
the public unless the court
11
1 orders the disclosure to be made
after a hearing in which the court takes
2 into consideration the health,
safety, or liberty of the party or child and
3 determines that the disclosure is in
the interest of justice.
4 New Sec.
22. (UCCJEA 210). (a) In a child-custody proceeding in
5 this state, the court may order a
party to the proceeding who is in this
6 state to appear before the court in
person with or without the child. The
7 court may order any person who is in
this state and who has physical
8 custody or control of the child to
appear in person with the child.
9 (b) If a
party to a child-custody proceeding whose presence is desired
10 by the court is outside this state, the
court may order that a notice given
11 pursuant to section 8 and amendments
thereto include a statement di-
12 recting the party to appear in person with
or without the child and in-
13 forming the party that failure to appear
may result in a decision adverse
14 to the party.
15 (c) The court may
enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of
16 the child and of any person ordered to
appear under this section.
17 (d) If a party to
a child-custody proceeding who is outside this state
18 is directed to appear under subsection (b)
or desires to appear personally
19 before the court with or without the child,
the court may require another
20 party to pay reasonable and necessary
travel and other expenses of the
21 party so appearing and of the child.
22 New Sec.
23. (UCCJEA 301). In sections 23 through 39 and amend-
23 ments thereto:
24 (1) "Petitioner"
means a person who seeks enforcement of an order
25 for return of a child under the Hague
Convention on the civil aspects of
26 international child abduction or
enforcement of a child-custody
27 determination.
28 (2) "Respondent"
means a person against whom a proceeding has
29 been commenced for enforcement of an order
for return of a child under
30 the Hague Convention on the civil aspects
of international child abduction
31 or enforcement of a child-custody
determination.
32 New Sec.
24. (UCCJEA 302). Under sections 23 through 39 and
33 amendments thereto, a court of this state
may enforce an order for the
34 return of the child made under the Hague
Convention on the civil aspects
35 of international child abduction as if it
were a child-custody
36 determination.
37 New Sec.
25. (UCCJEA 303). (a) A court of this state shall
recognize
38 and enforce a child-custody determination
of a court of another state if
39 the latter court exercised jurisdiction in
substantial conformity with this
40 act or the determination was made under
factual circumstances meeting
41 the jurisdictional standards of this act
and the determination has not been
42 modified in accordance with this act.
43 (b) A court of
this state may utilize any remedy available under other
12
1 law of this state to enforce a
child-custody determination made by a court
2 of another state. The remedies
provided in sections 23 through 39 and
3 amendments thereto, are cumulative
and do not affect the availability of
4 other remedies to enforce a
child-custody determination.
5 New Sec.
26. (UCCJEA 304). (a) A court of this state which does
6 not have jurisdiction to modify a
child-custody determination, may issue
7 a temporary order enforcing:
8 (1) A
visitation schedule made by a court of another state; or
9 (2) the
visitation provisions of a child-custody determination of an-
10 other state that does not provide for a
specific visitation schedule.
11 (b) If a court of
this state makes an order under subsection (a)(2), it
12 shall specify in the order a period that it
considers adequate to allow the
13 petitioner to obtain an order from a court
having jurisdiction under the
14 criteria specified in sections 13 through
22 and amendments thereto. The
15 order remains in effect until an order is
obtained from the other court or
16 the period expires.
17 New Sec.
27. (UCCJEA 305). (a) A child-custody determination is-
18 sued by a court of another state may be
registered in this state, with or
19 without a simultaneous request for
enforcement, by sending to the district
20 court in this state:
21 (1) A letter or
other document requesting registration;
22 (2) two copies,
including one certified copy, of the determination
23 sought to be registered, and a statement
under penalty of perjury that to
24 the best of the knowledge and belief of the
person seeking registration
25 the order has not been modified; and
26 (3) except as
otherwise provided in section 21 and amendments
27 thereto, the name and address of the person
seeking registration and any
28 parent or person acting as a parent who has
been awarded custody or
29 visitation in the child-custody
determination sought to be registered.
30 (b) On receipt of
the documents required by subsection (a), the reg-
31 istering court shall:
32 (1) Cause the
determination to be filed as a foreign judgment, to-
33 gether with one copy of any accompanying
documents and information,
34 regardless of their form; and
35 (2) serve notice
upon the persons named pursuant to subsection
36 (a)(3) and provide them with an opportunity
to contest the registration
37 in accordance with this section.
38 (c) The notice
required by subsection (b)(2) must state that:
39 (1) A registered
determination is enforceable as of the date of the
40 registration in the same manner as a
determination issued by a court of
41 this state;
42 (2) a hearing to
contest the validity of the registered determination
43 must be requested within 20 days after
service of notice; and
13
1 (3) failure
to contest the registration will result in confirmation of the
2 child-custody determination and
preclude further contest of that deter-
3 mination with respect to any matter
that could have been asserted.
4 (d) A
person seeking to contest the validity of a registered order
must
5 request a hearing within 20 days
after service of the notice. At that hear-
6 ing, the court shall confirm the
registered order unless the person con-
7 testing registration establishes
that:
8 (1) The
issuing court did not have jurisdiction under sections 13
9 through 22 and amendments
thereto;
10 (2) the
child-custody determination sought to be registered has been
11 vacated, stayed, or modified by a court
having jurisdiction to do so under
12 sections 13 through 22 and amendments
thereto; or
13 (3) the person
contesting registration was entitled to notice, but no-
14 tice was not given in accordance with the
standards of section 8 and
15 amendments thereto, in the proceedings
before the court that issued the
16 order for which registration is sought.
17 (e) If a timely
request for a hearing to contest the validity of the
18 registration is not made, the registration
is confirmed as a matter of law
19 and the person requesting registration and
all persons served must be
20 notified of the confirmation.
21 (f) Confirmation
of a registered order, whether by operation of law
22 or after notice and hearing, precludes
further contest of the order with
23 respect to any matter that could have been
asserted at the time of
24 registration.
25 (g) There shall
be no fee for registering a child-custody determination
26 issued by a court of another state pursuant
to this section. The fee for
27 enforcement or modification of any child
custody determination shall be
28 as prescribed in K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 60-1621,
and amendments thereto.
29 New Sec.
28. (UCCJEA 306). (a) A court of this state may grant any
30 relief normally available under the law of
this state to enforce a registered
31 child-custody determination made by a court
of another state.
32 (b) A court of
this state shall recognize and enforce, but may not
33 modify, except in accordance with sections
13 through 22 and amend-
34 ments thereto, a registered child-custody
determination of a court of an-
35 other state.
36 New Sec.
29. (UCCJEA 307). If a proceeding for enforcement under
37 sections 23 through 39 and amendments
thereto is commenced in a court
38 of this state and the court determines that
a proceeding to modify the
39 determination is pending in a court of
another state having jurisdiction
40 to modify the determination under sections
13 through 22 and amend-
41 ments thereto, the enforcing court shall
immediately communicate with
42 the modifying court. The proceeding for
enforcement continues unless
43 the enforcing court, after consultation
with the modifying court, stays or
14
1 dismisses the proceeding.
2 New Sec.
30. (UCCJEA 308). (a) A petition under sections 23
3 through 39 and amendments thereto,
must be verified. Certified copies
4 of all orders sought to be enforced
and of any order confirming registra-
5 tion must be attached to the
petition. A copy of a certified copy of an
6 order may be attached instead of the
original.
7 (b) A
petition for enforcement of a child-custody determination must
8 state:
9 (1) Whether
the court that issued the determination identified the
10 jurisdictional basis it relied upon in
exercising jurisdiction and, if so, what
11 the basis was;
12 (2) whether the
determination for which enforcement is sought has
13 been vacated, stayed, or modified by a
court whose decision must be
14 enforced under this act and, if so,
identify the court, the case number,
15 and the nature of the proceeding;
16 (3) whether any
proceeding has been commenced that could affect
17 the current proceeding, including
proceedings relating to domestic vio-
18 lence, protective orders, termination of
parental rights, and adoptions
19 and, if so, identify the court, the case
number, and the nature of the
20 proceeding;
21 (4) the present
physical address of the child and the respondent, if
22 known;
23 (5) whether
relief in addition to the immediate physical custody of
24 the child and attorney fees is sought,
including a request for assistance
25 from law enforcement officials and, if so,
the relief sought; and
26 (6) if the
child-custody determination has been registered and con-
27 firmed under section 27 and amendments
thereto, the date and place of
28 registration.
29 (c) Upon the
filing of a petition, the court shall issue an order di-
30 recting the respondent to appear in person
with or without the child at a
31 hearing and may enter any order necessary
to ensure the safety of the
32 parties and the child. The hearing must be
held on the next judicial day
33 after service of the order unless that date
is impossible. In that event, the
34 court shall hold the hearing on the first
judicial day possible. The court
35 may extend the date of hearing at the
request of the petitioner.
36 (d) An order
issued under subsection (c) must state the time and
37 place of the hearing and advise the
respondent that at the hearing the
38 court will order that the petitioner may
take immediate physical custody
39 of the child and the payment of fees,
costs, and expenses under section
40 34 and amendments thereto, and may schedule
a hearing to determine
41 whether further relief is appropriate,
unless the respondent appears and
42 establishes that:
43 (1) The
child-custody determination has not been registered and con-
15
1 firmed under section 27 and
amendments thereto and that:
2 (A) The
issuing court did not have jurisdiction under sections 13
3 through 22 and amendments
thereto;
4 (B) the
child-custody determination for which enforcement is sought
5 has been vacated, stayed, or modified
by a court having jurisdiction to do
6 so under sections 13 through 22 and
amendments thereto;
7 (C) the
respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given
8 in accordance with the standards of
section 8 and amendments thereto,
9 in the proceedings before the court
that issued the order for which en-
10 forcement is sought; or
11 (2) the
child-custody determination for which enforcement is sought
12 was registered and confirmed under section
26 and amendments thereto,
13 but has been vacated, stayed, or modified
by a court of a state having
14 jurisdiction to do so under sections 13
through 22 and amendments
15 thereto.
16 New Sec.
31. (UCCJEA 309). Except as otherwise provided in sec-
17 tion 33 and amendments thereto, the
petition and order must be served,
18 by any method authorized by the law of this
state, upon respondent and
19 any person who has physical custody of the
child.
20 New Sec.
32. (UCCJEA 310). (a) Unless the court issues a temporary
21 emergency order pursuant to section 16 and
amendments thereto, upon
22 a finding that a petitioner is entitled to
immediate physical custody of the
23 child, the court shall order that the
petitioner may take immediate phys-
24 ical custody of the child unless the
respondent establishes that:
25 (1) The
child-custody determination has not been registered and con-
26 firmed under section 27 and amendments
thereto, and that:
27 (A) The issuing
court did not have jurisdiction under sections 13
28 through 22 and amendments thereto;
29 (B) the
child-custody determination for which enforcement is sought
30 has been vacated, stayed, or modified by a
court of a state having juris-
31 diction to do so under sections 13 through
22 and amendments thereto;
32 or
33 (C) the
respondent was entitled to notice, but notice was not given
34 in accordance with the standards of section
8 and amendments thereto,
35 in the proceedings before the court that
issued the order for which en-
36 forcement is sought; or
37 (2) the
child-custody determination for which enforcement is sought
38 was registered and confirmed under section
27 and amendments thereto,
39 but has been vacated, stayed, or modified
by a court of a state having
40 jurisdiction to do so under sections 13
through 22 and amendments
41 thereto.
42 (b) The court
shall award the fees, costs, and expenses authorized
43 under section 34 and amendments thereto and
may grant additional relief,
16
1 including a request for the
assistance of law enforcement officials, and
2 set a further hearing to determine
whether additional relief is appropriate.
3 (c) If a
party called to testify refuses to answer on the ground that
4 the testimony may be
self-incriminating, the court may draw an adverse
5 inference from the refusal.
6 (d) A
privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses
7 and a defense of immunity based on
the relationship of husband and wife
8 or parent and child may not be
invoked in a proceeding under sections
9 23 through 39 and amendments
thereto.
10 New Sec.
33. (UCCJEA 311). (a) Upon the filing of a petition seek-
11 ing enforcement of a child-custody
determination, the petitioner may file
12 a verified application for the issuance of
a warrant to take physical custody
13 of the child if the child is immediately
likely to suffer serious physical
14 harm or be removed from this state.
15 (b) If the court,
upon the testimony of the petitioner or other witness,
16 finds that the child is imminently likely
to suffer serious physical harm or
17 be removed from this state, it may issue a
warrant to take physical custody
18 of the child. The petition must be heard on
the next judicial day after the
19 warrant is executed unless that date is
impossible. In that event, the court
20 shall hold the hearing on the first
judicial day possible. The application
21 for the warrant must include the statements
required by subsection (b)
22 of section 30 and amendments thereto.
23 (c) A warrant to
take physical custody of a child must:
24 (1) Recite the
facts upon which a conclusion of imminent serious
25 physical harm or removal from the
jurisdiction is based;
26 (2) direct law
enforcement officers to take physical custody of the
27 child immediately; and
28 (3) provide for
the placement of the child pending final relief.
29 (d) The
respondent must be served with the petition, warrant, and
30 order immediately after the child is taken
into physical custody.
31 (e) A warrant to
take physical custody of a child is enforceable
32 throughout this state. If the court finds
on the basis of the testimony of
33 the petitioner or other witness that a less
intrusive remedy is not effective,
34 it may authorize law enforcement officers
to enter private property to
35 take physical custody of the child. If
required by exigent circumstances
36 of the case, the court may authorize law
enforcement officers to make a
37 forcible entry at any hour.
38 (f) The court may
impose conditions upon placement of a child to
39 ensure the appearance of the child and the
child's custodian.
40 New Sec.
34. (UCCJEA 312). (a) The court shall award the prevail-
41 ing party, including a state, necessary and
reasonable expenses incurred
42 by or on behalf of the party, including
costs, communication expenses,
43 attorney fees, investigative fees, expenses
for witnesses, travel expenses,
17
1 and child care during the course of
the proceedings, unless the party from
2 whom fees or expenses are sought
establishes that the award would be
3 clearly inappropriate.
4 (b) The
court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against a state
5 unless authorized by law other than
this act.
6 New Sec.
35. (UCCJEA 313). A court of this state shall accord full
7 faith and credit to an order issued
by another state and consistent with
8 this act which enforces a
child-custody determination by a court of an-
9 other state unless the order has been
vacated, stayed, or modified by a
10 court having jurisdiction to do so under
sections 13 through 22 and
11 amendments thereto.
12 New Sec.
36. (UCCJEA 314). An appeal may be taken from a final
13 order in a proceeding under sections 23
through 39 and amendments
14 thereto, in accordance with expedited
appellate procedures in other civil
15 cases. Unless the court enters a temporary
emergency order under section
16 16 and amendments thereto, the enforcing
court may not stay an order
17 enforcing a child-custody determination
pending appeal.
18 New Sec.
37. (UCCJEA 315). (a) In a case arising under this act or
19 involving the Hague Convention on the civil
aspects of international child
20 abduction, the prosecutor may take any
lawful action, including resort to
21 a proceeding under sections 23 through 39
and amendments thereto or
22 any other available civil proceeding to
locate a child, obtain the return of
23 a child, or enforce a child-custody
determination if there is:
24 (1) An existing
child-custody determination;
25 (2) a request to
do so from a court in a pending child-custody
26 proceeding;
27 (3) a reasonable
belief that a criminal statute has been violated; or
28 (4) a reasonable
belief that the child has been wrongfully removed
29 or retained in violation of the Hague
Convention on the civil aspects of
30 international child abduction.
31 (b) A prosecutor
acting under this section acts on behalf of the court
32 and may not represent any party.
33 New Sec.
38. (UCCJEA 316). At the request of a prosecutor acting
34 under section 37 and amendments thereto, a
law enforcement officer may
35 take any lawful action reasonably necessary
to locate a child or a party
36 and assist a prosecutor with
responsibilities under section 37 and amend-
37 ments thereto.
38 New Sec.
39. (UCCJEA 317). If the respondent is not the prevailing
39 party, the court may assess against the
respondent all direct expenses and
40 costs incurred by the prosecutor and law
enforcement officers under sec-
41 tion 37 or 38 and amendments thereto.
42 New Sec.
40. (UCCJEA 401). In applying and construing this uni-
43 form act, consideration must be given to
the need to promote uniformity
18
1 of the law with respect to its
subject matter among states that enact it.
2 New Sec.
41. (UCCJEA 402). If any provision of this act or its ap-
3 plication to any person or
circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does
4 not affect other provisions or
applications of this act which can be given
5 effect without the invalid provision
or application, and to this end the
6 provisions of this act are
severable.
7 New Sec.
42. (UCCJEA 405). A motion or other request for relief
8 made in a child-custody proceeding or
to enforce a child-custody deter-
9 mination which was commenced before
the effective date of this act is
10 governed by the law in effect at the time
the motion or other request was
11 made.
12 Sec.
43. K.S.A. 38-1116 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
13 1116. (a) The district court has
jurisdiction of an action brought under
14 this the Kansas
parentage act. The action may be joined with an action
15 for divorce, annulment, separate
maintenance, support or adoption.
16 (b) If any
custody or visitation determination is sought in any action
17 under the Kansas parentage act, the
initial pleading seeking that deter-
18 mination shall include that information
required by section 21, and
19 amendments thereto;
20
(b)(c) The action may be brought in
the county in which the child,
21 the mother or the presumed or alleged
father resides or is found. If a
22 parent or an alleged or presumed parent is
deceased, an action may be
23 brought in the county in which proceedings
for probate of the estate of
24 the parent or alleged or presumed parent
have been or could be
25 commenced.
26 Sec.
44. K.S.A. 38-1503 is hereby amended to read as follows:
38-
27 1503. (a) Proceedings concerning any child
who appears to be a child in
28 need of care shall be governed by this
code, except in those instances
29 when the Indian child welfare act of 1978
(25 U.S.C. § § 1901 et seq.)
30 applies.
31 (b) Subject to
the uniform child custody jurisdiction and enforcement
32 act, K.S.A. 38-1301 et
seq. sections 1 through 42 and amendments thereto,
33 the district court shall have original
jurisdiction to receive and determine
34 proceedings under this code.
35 (c) When
jurisdiction has been acquired by the court over the person
36 of a child in need of care it may continue
until the child: (1) Has attained
37 the age of 21 years; (2) has been adopted;
or (3) has been discharged by
38 the court. Any child 18 years of age or
over may request, by motion to
39 the court, that the jurisdiction of the
court cease. Subsequently, the court
40 shall enter an order discharging the person
from any further jurisdiction
41 of the court.
42 (d) When it is no
longer appropriate for the court to exercise juris-
43 diction over a child the court, upon its
own motion or the motion of an
19
1 interested party, shall enter an
order discharging the child. Except upon
2 request of the child, the court shall
not enter an order discharging a child
3 which reaches 18 years of age before
completing the child's high school
4 education until June 1 of the school
year during which the child became
5 18 years of age as long as the child
is still attending high school.
6 (e) Unless
the court finds that substantial injustice would result, the
7 provisions of this code shall govern
with respect to acts or omissions oc-
8 curring prior to the effective date
of this code and with respect to children
9 alleged or adjudicated to have done
or to have been affected by the acts
10 or omissions, to the same extent as if the
acts or omissions had occurred
11 on or after the effective date and the
children had been alleged or ad-
12 judicated to be children in need of
care.
13 Sec.
45. K.S.A. 59-2127 is hereby amended to read as follows:
59-
14 2127. (a) If the basis for venue in
an agency adoption is subsection (b)(3)
15 of K.S.A. 59-2126 and the
petitioner does not reside in Kansas and the
16 child to be adopted did not reside
in Kansas prior to receipt of custody
17 by the agency, the court shall
determine whether or not to exercise its
18 jurisdiction under this act based
on the best interests of the child. For
19 this purpose the court shall
consider the following factors:
20 (1) If
another state recently was the child's or mother's home
state;
21 (2) if
another state has a closer connection with the child or the
child's
22 adoptive or genetic parent or
parents;
23 (3) if
substantial evidence concerning the child's present or
future
24 care, protection, training and
personal relationships is more readily avail-
25 able in another state;
26 (4) the
unavailability of placement opportunities for such child
within
27 the state of Kansas;
and
28 (5) any
other factor the court deems relevant in its determination
of
29 whether or not to exercise its
jurisdiction.
30 (a) Except as
otherwise provided in subsections (b) and (c), a court
31 of this state has jurisdiction over a
proceeding for the adoption of a minor
32 commenced under this act if:
33
(1) Immediately before commencement of the proceeding, the
minor
34 lived in this state with a parent, a
guardian, a prospective adoptive parent,
35 or another person acting as parent, for
at least six consecutive months,
36 excluding periods of temporary absence,
or, in the case of a minor under
37 six months of age, lived in this state
from soon after birth with any of
38 those individuals and there is available
in this state substantial evidence
39 concerning the minor's present or future
care;
40
(2) immediately before commencement of the proceeding, the
pro-
41 spective adoptive parent lived in this
state for at least six consecutive
42 months, excluding periods of temporary
absence, and there is available in
43 this state substantial evidence
concerning the minor's present or future
20
1 care;
2 (3) the
agency that placed the minor for adoption is located in
this
3 state and it is in the best
interest of the minor that a court of this state
4 assume jurisdiction
because:
5 (A) The
minor and the minor's parents, or the minor and the pro-
6 spective adoptive parent, have a
significant connection with this state;
7 and
8
(B) there is available in this state substantial evidence
concerning the
9 minor's present or future
care;
10 (4) the minor
and the prospective adoptive parent are physically pres-
11 ent in this state and the minor has been
abandoned or it is necessary in
12 an emergency to protect the minor
because the minor has been subjected
13 to or threatened with mistreatment or
abuse; or
14 (5) all courts
having jurisdiction under paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4)
15 have declined to exercise jurisdiction
on the ground that a court of this
16 state is the more appropriate forum to
determine the custody of the child.
17 (b) A court of
this state may not exercise jurisdiction over a proceed-
18 ing for adoption of a minor if at the
time the petition for adoption is filed
19 a proceeding concerning the custody or
adoption of the minor is pending
20 in a court of another state exercising
jurisdiction substantially in conform-
21 ity with the uniform child custody
jurisdiction act, or the uniform child
22 custody jurisdiction and enforcement
act, or this act unless the proceeding
23 is stayed by the court of the other
state.
24 (c) If a court
of another state has issued a decree or order concerning
25 the custody of a minor who may be the
subject of a proceeding for adop-
26 tion in this state, a court of this
state may not exercise jurisdiction over a
27 proceeding for adoption of the minor
unless:
28 (1) The court
of this state finds that the court of the state which
issued
29 the decree or order:
30 (A) Does not have
continuing jurisdiction to modify the decree or order
31 under jurisdictional prerequisites
substantially in accordance with the
32 uniform child custody jurisdiction act,
or the uniform child custody ju-
33 risdiction and enforcement act, or has
declined to assume jurisdiction to
34 modify the decree or order, or
35 (B) does not
have jurisdiction over a proceeding for adoption sub-
36 stantially in conformity with subsection
(a)(l) through (4) or has declined
37 to assume jurisdiction proceeding for
adoption; and
38 (2) the court
of this state has jurisdiction over the proceeding.
39
(b)(d) Before determining whether or
not to exercise its jurisdiction
40 the court may communicate with a court of
another state and exchange
41 information pertinent to the assumption of
jurisdiction by either court
42 with a view to assuring that jurisdiction
will be exercised by such court
43 of another state and that a forum will be
available to the parties.
21
1
(c)(e) If the court determines not to
exercise its jurisdiction, it may
2 dismiss the proceedings, or it may
stay the proceedings upon condition
3 that an adoption proceeding be
promptly commenced in another named
4 state or upon any other conditions
which may be just and proper.
5 Sec.
46. K.S.A. 59-2128 is hereby amended to read as follows:
59-
6 2128. (a) A petition for adoption
shall be filed by the person desiring to
7 adopt the child, and shall state
the following information, if reasonably
8 ascertainable, under oath:
9
(1) In an independent adoption: (A) The name,
residence and address
10 of the petitioner;
11 (B) the
name of the child, the date, time and place of the
child's
12 birth, and the place at which the
child resides;
13 (C) the
suitability of the petitioner to assume the
relationship;
14
(D) whether one or both parents are living and the name, date
of
15 birth, residence and address of
those living, so far as known to the
16 petitioner;
17 (E) the
facts relied upon as eliminating the necessity for the
consent,
18 if the consent of either or both
parents is not obtained;
19 (F) the
information required by the uniform child custody
jurisdic-
20 tion act under K.S.A. 38-1309 and
amendments thereto; and
21
(G) whether the interstate compact on placement of children,
K.S.A.
22 38-1201 et seq. and
amendments thereto, and the Indian child welfare
23 act, 25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq., are
applicable and have been or will be com-
24 plied with prior to the hearing;
25 (2) in an agency
adoption, all requirements contained in subsection
26 (a)(1) except subsection (a)(1)(E), and if
applicable, the factual basis upon
27 which the court should determine to
exercise its jurisdiction as provided
28 in K.S.A. 59-2127; or
29 (3) in a
stepparent adoption, all requirements contained in subsection
30 (a)(1) except that a statement of
compliance with the interstate compact
31 on placement of children is not
required.
32 (1) the name,
residence and address of the petitioner;
33 (2) the
suitability of the petitioner to assume the relationship;
34 (3) the name
of the child, the date, time and place of the child's
birth,
35 and the present address or whereabouts
of the child;
36 (4) the places
where the child has lived during the last five years;
37 (5) the names
and present addresses of the persons with whom the
38 child has lived during that
period;
39 (6) whether
the party has participated, as a party or witness or in
40 any other capacity, in any other
proceeding concerning the custody of or
41 visitation with the child and, if so,
identify the court, the case number,
42 and the date of the child-custody
determination, if any;
43 (7) whether
the party knows of any proceeding that could affect the
22
1 current proceeding, including
proceedings for enforcement and proceed-
2 ings relating to domestic
violence, protective orders, termination of pa-
3 rental rights, and adoptions and,
if so, identify the court, the case number,
4 and the nature of the
proceeding;
5
(8) whether the party knows the names and addresses of any
person
6 not a party to the proceeding who
has physical custody of the child or
7 claims rights of legal custody or
physical custody of, or visitation with,
8 the child and, if so, the names
and addresses of those persons;
9
(9) whether one or both parents are living and the name, date
of birth,
10 residence and address of those living,
so far as known to the petitioner;
11 (10) the facts
relied upon as eliminating the necessity for the consent,
12 if the consent of either or both parents
is not obtained;
13 (11) whether
the interstate compact on placement of children, K.S.A.
14 38-1201 et seq. and amendments thereto,
and the Indian Child Welfare
15 act, 25 U.S.C. have been or will be
complied with prior to the hearing.
16 (b) If the
information required by subsection (a) is not furnished,
the
17 court, upon motion of a party or its own
motion, may stay the proceeding
18 until the information is
furnished.
19 (c) If the
declaration as to any of the items described in subsection
20 (a)(6) through (a)(9) is in the
affirmative, the declarant shall give addi-
21 tional information under oath as
required by the court. The court may
22 examine the parties under oath as to
details of the information furnished
23 and other matters pertinent to the
court's jurisdiction and the disposition
24 of the case.
25 (d) The
petitioner has a continuing duty to inform the court of any
26 proceeding in this or any other state
that could affect the current
27 proceeding.
28 (e) A petition
filed in a step parent adoption shall not require a state-
29 ment in compliance with the interstate
compact on placement of children.
30
(b)(f) The written consents to
adoption required by K.S.A. 59-2129,
31 and amendments thereto, the background
information required by K.S.A.
32 59-2130, and amendments thereto, the
accounting required by K.S.A. 59-
33 2121 and amendments thereto, and any
affidavit required by K.S.A. 59-
34 2126 shall be filed with the petition for
adoption.
35 Sec.
47. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 59-3009 is hereby amended to read as
36 follows: 59-3009. Any person may file in
the district court of the county
37 of the residence or presence of the
proposed ward a verified petition for
38 the appointment of a guardian. Any person
may file in the district court
39 of the county of the residence of the
proposed conservatee a verified
40 petition for the appointment of a
conservator. If the proposed conservatee
41 resides without the state, such petition
may be filed in any county in which
42 any of the property of the proposed
conservatee is situated.
43 (a) If the
proposed ward or proposed conservatee is alleged to be a
23
1 disabled person the petition shall
state:
2 (1) The
petitioner's belief that the proposed ward or proposed con-
3 servatee is a disabled person;
4 (2) the
name, age, residence and present address of the proposed
5 ward or proposed conservatee, if
known to the petitioner;
6 (3) the
name and address of the nearest relatives of the proposed
7 ward or proposed conservatee, if
known to the petitioner and if not
8 known, that the petitioner has made
diligent inquiry to learn the name
9 of such relatives;
10 (4) the general
character and probable value of the real and personal
11 property, including the amount and sources
of income, of the proposed
12 ward or proposed conservatee, if known to
the petitioner;
13 (5) the name and
address of the person, if any, having custody and
14 control of the proposed ward or proposed
conservatee, if known to the
15 petitioner;
16 (6) the names and
addresses of witnesses by whom the truth of the
17 petition may be proved;
18 (7) the reasons
for the need of the appointment of a guardian or
19 conservator, or both;
20 (8) a request
that the court make a determination that the proposed
21 ward or proposed conservatee is a disabled
person, make one or more of
22 the orders provided for in K.S.A. 59-3010
and 59-3011 and amendments
23 thereto, and appoint a guardian or
conservator, or both; and
24 (9) the name,
address, and relationship to the proposed ward or pro-
25 posed conservatee, if any, of the person
whom the court is requested to
26 appoint as a guardian or as a conservator.
If a proposed conservator is
27 under contract with the Kansas guardianship
program, the application for
28 appointment of guardian or conservator
shall so state. Any such petition
29 may be accompanied, or the court may
require that such petition be
30 accompanied by a statement in writing of a
physician or psychologist
31 stating that the physician or psychologist
has examined the proposed ward
32 or proposed conservatee and the results of
the examination on the issue
33 of whether the proposed ward or proposed
conservatee is a disabled per-
34 son or the court may allow such petition to
be accompanied by a verified
35 statement by the petitioner that the
proposed ward or proposed conser-
36 vatee has refused to submit to an
examination by a physician or
37 psychologist.
38 (b) If the
proposed ward or proposed conservatee is alleged to be a
39 minor the petition shall state:
40 (1) The proposed
ward or proposed conservatee is a minor;
41 (2) the name,
age, residence and present address of the proposed
42 ward or proposed conservatee, if known to
the petitioner;
43 (3) the
information required including that information required by
24
1 section 21, and amendments
thereto, if the petition seeks appointment of
2 a guardian for the minor;
3
(3)(4) the name and address of the
natural guardian, guardian, con-
4 servator and custodian, if any, of
the proposed ward or proposed conser-
5 vatee, if known to the petitioner,
and if not known that the petitioner has
6 made diligent inquiry to learn their
names;
7
(4)(5) the general character and
probable value of the real and per-
8 sonal property, including the amount
and sources of income, of the pro-
9 posed ward or proposed conservatee,
if known to the petitioner;
10
(5)(6) the names and addresses of
witnesses by whom the truth of
11 the petition may be proved;
12
(6)(7) the reasons for the need for
the appointment of a guardian or
13 conservator, or both;
14
(7)(8) a request that the court make a
determination that the pro-
15 posed ward or proposed conservatee is a
minor, make one or more of the
16 orders provided for by K.S.A. 59-3010 and
59-3011 and amendments
17 thereto, and appoint a guardian or a
conservator, or both; and
18
(8)(9) the name, address, and
relationship to the proposed ward or
19 proposed conservatee, if any, of the person
whom the court is requested
20 to appoint as a guardian or as a
conservator.
21 (c) If the
proposed conservatee has been duly adjudged an incapac-
22 itated person, a disabled person, an insane
person or an incompetent
23 person by any court of competent
jurisdiction in any other state and a
24 domiciliary conservator or guardian for the
estate of such person has been
25 appointed, a duly authenticated transcript
of such adjudication and ap-
26 pointment shall be prima facie evidence of
such incapacity and may be
27 relied upon for the appointment of an
ancillary conservator in this state.
28 Such authenticated transcript shall be
attached to the petition which shall
29 state:
30 (1) That the
proposed conservatee has been duly adjudged an inca-
31 pacitated person, a disabled person, an
insane person or an incompetent
32 person by a court of competent jurisdiction
of another state and a dom-
33 iciliary conservator or guardian for such
conservatee's estate has been
34 appointed, which adjudication and
appointment are still in full force and
35 effect;
36 (2) the name,
age, residence and present address of the proposed
37 conservatee, if known to the
petitioner;
38 (3) the name and
address of the nearest relatives of the proposed
39 conservatee, if known to the petitioner and
if not known, that the peti-
40 tioner has made diligent inquiry to learn
the name of such relatives;
41 (4) the location
and value of Kansas property for which an ancillary
42 conservatorship is needed;
43 (5) the name and
address of the person, if any, having custody and
25
1 control of the proposed conservatee,
if known to the petitioner;
2 (6) the
reasons for the need for the appointment of an ancillary con-
3 servator; and
4 (7) a
request that the court appoint an ancillary conservator as pro-
5 vided in subsection (c) of K.S.A.
59-3010 and amendments thereto.
6 Sec.
48. K.S.A. 60-1604 is hereby amended to read as follows:
60-
7 1604. (a) Verification of
petition. The truth of the allegations of any pe-
8 tition under this article must be
verified by the petitioner in person or by
9 the guardian of an incapacitated
person.
10
(b) Captions. All pleadings shall be captioned, "In the
matter of the
11 marriage of
and
." In
the
12 caption, the name of the petitioner shall
appear first and the name of the
13 respondent shall appear second, but the
respective parties shall not be
14 designated as such.
15 (c) Contents
of petition. The grounds for divorce, annulment or sep-
16 arate maintenance shall be alleged as
nearly as possible in the general
17 language of the statute, without detailed
statement of facts. If there are
18 minor children of the marriage, the
petition shall state their names and
19 dates of birth and shall contain, or be
accompanied by an affidavit which
20 contains, the information required by
K.S.A. 38-1309 section 21 and
21 amendments thereto.
22 (d) Bill of
particulars. The opposing party may demand a statement
23 of the facts which shall be furnished in
the form of a bill of particulars.
24 The facts stated in the bill of particulars
shall be the specific facts upon
25 which the action shall be tried. If
interrogatories have been served on or
26 a deposition taken of the party from whom
the bill of particulars is de-
27 manded, the court in its discretion may
refuse to grant the demand for a
28 bill of particulars. A copy of the bill of
particulars shall be delivered to
29 the judge. The bill of particulars shall
not be filed with the clerk of the
30 court or become a part of the record except
on appeal, and then only
31 when the issue to be reviewed relates to
the facts stated in the bill of
32 particulars. The bill of particulars shall
be destroyed by the district judge
33 unless an appeal is taken, in which case
the bill of particulars shall be
34 destroyed upon receipt of the final order
from the appellate court.
35 (e) Service of
process. Service of process shall be made in the manner
36 provided in article 3 of this chapter.
37 Sec.
49. K.S.A. 60-1605 is hereby amended to read as follows:
60-
38 1605. The respondent may answer and may
also file a counterpetition
39 counterclaim for divorce, annulment
or separate maintenance. If new
40 matter is set up in the answer, it shall be
verified by the respondent in
41 person or by the guardian of an
incapacitated person. If a counterpetition
42 counterclaim is filed, it shall be
subject to the provisions of subsections
43 (a), (b) and (c) of K.S.A. 60-1604 and
amendments thereto. When there
26
1 are minor children of the marriage,
the answer shall contain, or be ac-
2 companied by an affidavit which
contains, the information required by
3 K.S.A. 38-1309
section 21, and amendments thereto.
4 Sec.
50. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 60-1610 is hereby amended to read as
5 follows: 60-1610. A decree in an
action under this article may include
6 orders on the following matters:
7
(a) Minor children. (1) Child support and
education. The court shall
8 make provisions for the support and
education of the minor children. The
9 court may modify or change any prior
order, including any order issued
10 in a title IV-D case, within three years of
the date of the original order
11 or a modification order, when a material
change in circumstances is
12 shown, irrespective of the present domicile
of the child or the parents. If
13 more than three years has passed since the
date of the original order or
14 modification order, a material change in
circumstance need not be shown.
15 The court may make a modification of child
support retroactive to a date
16 at least one month after the date that the
motion to modify was filed with
17 the court. Any increase in support ordered
effective prior to the date the
18 court's judgment is filed shall not become
a lien on real property pursuant
19 to K.S.A. 60-2202 and amendments thereto.
Regardless of the type of
20 custodial arrangement ordered by the court,
the court may order the child
21 support and education expenses to be paid
by either or both parents for
22 any child less than 18 years of age, at
which age the support shall ter-
23 minate unless: (A) The parent or parents
agree, by written agreement
24 approved by the court, to pay support
beyond the time the child reaches
25 18 years of age; (B) the child reaches 18
years of age before completing
26 the child's high school education in which
case the support shall not ter-
27 minate automatically, unless otherwise
ordered by the court, until June
28 30 of the school year during which the
child became 18 years of age if
29 the child is still attending high school;
or (C) the child is still a bona fide
30 high school student after June 30 of the
school year during which the
31 child became 18 years of age, in which case
the court, on motion, may
32 order support to continue through the
school year during which the child
33 becomes 19 years of age so long as the
child is a bona fide high school
34 student and the parents jointly
participated or knowingly acquiesced in
35 the decision which delayed the child's
completion of high school. The
36 court, in extending support pursuant to
subsection (a)(1)(C), may impose
37 such conditions as are appropriate and
shall set the child support utilizing
38 the guideline table category for 16-year
through 18-year old children.
39 Provision for payment of support and
educational expenses of a child after
40 reaching 18 years of age if still attending
high school shall apply to any
41 child subject to the jurisdiction of the
court, including those whose sup-
42 port was ordered prior to July 1, 1992. If
an agreement approved by the
43 court prior to July 1, 1988, provides for
termination of support before the
27
1 date provided by subsection
(a)(1)(B), the court may review and modify
2 such agreement, and any order based
on such agreement, to extend the
3 date for termination of support to
the date provided by subsection
4 (a)(1)(B). If an agreement approved
by the court prior to July 1, 1992,
5 provides for termination of support
before the date provided by subsec-
6 tion (a)(1)(C), the court may review
and modify such agreement, and any
7 order based on such agreement, to
extend the date for termination of
8 support to the date provided by
subsection (a)(1)(C). For purposes of this
9 section, "bona fide high school
student" means a student who is enrolled
10 in full accordance with the policy of the
accredited high school in which
11 the student is pursuing a high school
diploma or a graduate equivalency
12 diploma (GED). In determining the amount to
be paid for child support,
13 the court shall consider all relevant
factors, without regard to marital
14 misconduct, including the financial
resources and needs of both parents,
15 the financial resources and needs of the
child and the physical and emo-
16 tional condition of the child. Until a
child reaches 18 years of age, the
17 court may set apart any portion of property
of either the husband or wife,
18 or both, that seems necessary and proper
for the support of the child.
19 Every order requiring payment of child
support under this section shall
20 require that the support be paid through
the clerk of the district court or
21 the court trustee except for good cause
shown.
22 (2) Child
custody and residency. (A) Changes in custody. Subject
to
23 the provisions of the uniform child custody
jurisdiction and enforcement
24 act (K.S.A. 38-1301 et
seq. sections 1 through 42, and amendments
25 thereto), the court may change or modify
any prior order of custody when
26 a material change of circumstances is
shown, but no ex parte order shall
27 have the effect of changing the custody of
a minor child from the parent
28 who has had the sole de facto custody of
the child to the other parent
29 unless there is sworn testimony to support
a showing of extraordinary
30 circumstances. If an interlocutory order is
issued ex parte, the court shall
31 hear a motion to vacate or modify the order
within 15 days of the date
32 that a party requests a hearing whether to
vacate or modify the order.
33
(B) Examination of parties. The court may order
physical or mental
34 examinations of the parties if requested
pursuant to K.S.A. 60-235 and
35 amendments thereto.
36 (3) Child
custody or residency criteria. The court shall determine
37 custody or residency of a child in
accordance with the best interests of
38 the child.
39 (A) If the
parties have a written agreement concerning the custody
40 or residency of their minor child, it is
presumed that the agreement is in
41 the best interests of the child. This
presumption may be overcome and
42 the court may make a different order if the
court makes specific findings
43 of fact stating why the agreement is not in
the best interests of the child.
28
1 (B) In
determining the issue of custody or residency of a child, the
2 court shall consider all relevant
factors, including but not limited to:
3 (i) The
length of time that the child has been under the actual care
4 and control of any person other than
a parent and the circumstances
5 relating thereto;
6 (ii) the
desires of the child's parents as to custody or residency;
7 (iii) the
desires of the child as to the child's custody or residency;
8 (iv) the
interaction and interrelationship of the child with parents,
9 siblings and any other person who may
significantly affect the child's best
10 interests;
11 (v) the child's
adjustment to the child's home, school and community;
12 (vi) the
willingness and ability of each parent to respect and appre-
13 ciate the bond between the child and the
other parent and to allow for a
14 continuing relationship between the child
and the other parent; and
15 (vii) evidence of
spousal abuse.
16 Neither parent shall
be considered to have a vested interest in the
17 custody or residency of any child as
against the other parent, regardless
18 of the age of the child, and there shall be
no presumption that it is in the
19 best interests of any infant or young child
to give custody or residency to
20 the mother.
21 (4) Types of
custodial arrangements. Subject to the provisions of this
22 article, the court may make any order
relating to custodial arrangements
23 which is in the best interests of the
child. The order shall include, but
24 not be limited to, one of the following, in
the order of preference:
25 (A) Joint
custody. The court may place the custody of a child with
26 both parties on a shared or joint-custody
basis. In that event, the parties
27 shall have equal rights to make decisions
in the best interests of the child
28 under their custody. When a child is placed
in the joint custody of the
29 child's parents, the court may further
determine that the residency of the
30 child shall be divided either in an equal
manner with regard to time of
31 residency or on the basis of a primary
residency arrangement for the child.
32 The court, in its discretion, may require
the parents to submit a plan for
33 implementation of a joint custody order
upon finding that both parents
34 are suitable parents or the parents, acting
individually or in concert, may
35 submit a custody implementation plan to the
court prior to issuance of a
36 custody decree. If the court does not order
joint custody, it shall include
37 in the record the specific findings of fact
upon which the order for custody
38 other than joint custody is based.
39 (B) Sole
custody. The court may place the custody of a child with
one
40 parent, and the other parent shall be the
noncustodial parent. The cus-
41 todial parent shall have the right to make
decisions in the best interests
42 of the child, subject to the visitation
rights of the noncustodial parent.
43 (C) Divided
custody. In an exceptional case, the court may divide the
29
1 custody of two or more children
between the parties.
2
(D) Nonparental custody. If during the proceedings the
court deter-
3 mines that there is probable cause to
believe that: (i) The child is a child
4 in need of care as defined by
subsections (a)(1), (2) or (3) of K.S.A. 38-
5 1502 and amendments thereto; (ii)
neither parent is fit to have custody;
6 or (iii) the child is currently
residing with such child's grandparent, grand-
7 parents, aunt or uncle and such
relative has had actual physical custody
8 of such child for a significant
length of time, the court may award tem-
9 porary custody of the child to such
relative, another person or agency if
10 the court finds the award of custody to
such relative, another person or
11 agency is in the best interests of the
child. In making such a custody
12 order, the court shall give preference, to
the extent that the court finds
13 it is in the best interests of the child,
first to awarding such custody to a
14 relative of the child by blood, marriage or
adoption and second to award-
15 ing such custody to another person with
whom the child has close emo-
16 tional ties. The court may make temporary
orders for care, support, ed-
17 ucation and visitation that it considers
appropriate. Temporary custody
18 orders are to be entered in lieu of
temporary orders provided for in K.S.A.
19 38-1542 and 38-1543, and amendments
thereto, and shall remain in effect
20 until there is a final determination under
the Kansas code for care of
21 children. An award of temporary custody
under this paragraph shall not
22 terminate parental rights nor give the
court the authority to consent to
23 the adoption of the child. When the court
enters orders awarding tem-
24 porary custody of the child to an agency or
a person other than the parent
25 but not a relative as described in subpart
(iii), the court shall refer a
26 transcript of the proceedings to the county
or district attorney. The county
27 or district attorney shall file a petition
as provided in K.S.A. 38-1531 and
28 amendments thereto and may request
termination of parental rights pur-
29 suant to K.S.A. 38-1581 and amendments
thereto. The costs of the pro-
30 ceedings shall be paid from the general
fund of the county. When a final
31 determination is made that the child is not
a child in need of care, the
32 county or district attorney shall notify
the court in writing and the court,
33 after a hearing, shall enter appropriate
custody orders pursuant to this
34 section. If the same judge presides over
both proceedings, the notice is
35 not required. Any disposition pursuant to
the Kansas code for care of
36 children shall be binding and shall
supersede any order under this section.
37 When the court enters orders awarding
temporary custody of the child
38 to a relative as described in subpart
(iii), the court shall annually review
39 the temporary custody to evaluate whether
such custody is still in the best
40 interests of the child. If the court finds
such custody is in the best interests
41 of the child, such custody shall continue.
If the court finds such custody
42 is not in the best interests of the child,
the court shall determine the
43 custody pursuant to this section.
30
1
(b) Financial matters. (1) Division of property.
The decree shall di-
2 vide the real and personal property
of the parties, including any retire-
3 ment and pension plans, whether owned
by either spouse prior to mar-
4 riage, acquired by either spouse in
the spouse's own right after marriage
5 or acquired by the spouses' joint
efforts, by: (A) A division of the property
6 in kind; (B) awarding the property or
part of the property to one of the
7 spouses and requiring the other to
pay a just and proper sum; or (C)
8 ordering a sale of the property,
under conditions prescribed by the court,
9 and dividing the proceeds of the
sale. Upon request, the trial court shall
10 set a valuation date to be used for all
assets at trial, which may be the
11 date of separation, filing or trial as the
facts and circumstances of the case
12 may dictate. The trial court may consider
evidence regarding changes in
13 value of various assets before and after
the valuation date in making the
14 division of property. In dividing
defined-contribution types of retirement
15 and pension plans, the court shall allocate
profits and losses on the non-
16 participant's portion until date of
distribution to that nonparticipant. In
17 making the division of property the court
shall consider the age of the
18 parties; the duration of the marriage; the
property owned by the parties;
19 their present and future earning
capacities; the time, source and manner
20 of acquisition of property; family ties and
obligations; the allowance of
21 maintenance or lack thereof; dissipation of
assets; the tax consequences
22 of the property division upon the
respective economic circumstances of
23 the parties; and such other factors as the
court considers necessary to
24 make a just and reasonable division of
property. The decree shall provide
25 for any changes in beneficiary designation
on: (A) Any insurance or an-
26 nuity policy that is owned by the parties,
or in the case of group life
27 insurance policies, under which either of
the parties is a covered person;
28 (B) any trust instrument under which one
party is the grantor or holds a
29 power of appointment over part or all of
the trust assets, that may be
30 exercised in favor of either party; or (C)
any transfer on death or payable
31 on death account under which one or both of
the parties are owners or
32 beneficiaries. Nothing in this section
shall relieve the parties of the ob-
33 ligation to effectuate any change in
beneficiary designation by the filing
34 of such change with the insurer or issuer
in accordance with the terms
35 of such policy.
36
(2) Maintenance. The decree may award to either party
an allowance
37 for future support denominated as
maintenance, in an amount the court
38 finds to be fair, just and equitable under
all of the circumstances. The
39 decree may make the future payments
modifiable or terminable under
40 circumstances prescribed in the decree. The
court may make a modifi-
41 cation of maintenance retroactive to a date
at least one month after the
42 date that the motion to modify was filed
with the court. In any event, the
43 court may not award maintenance for a
period of time in excess of 121
31
1 months. If the original court decree
reserves the power of the court to
2 hear subsequent motions for
reinstatement of maintenance and such a
3 motion is filed prior to the
expiration of the stated period of time for
4 maintenance payments, the court shall
have jurisdiction to hear a motion
5 by the recipient of the maintenance
to reinstate the maintenance pay-
6 ments. Upon motion and hearing, the
court may reinstate the payments
7 in whole or in part for a period of
time, conditioned upon any modifying
8 or terminating circumstances
prescribed by the court, but the reinstate-
9 ment shall be limited to a period of
time not exceeding 121 months. The
10 recipient may file subsequent motions for
reinstatement of maintenance
11 prior to the expiration of subsequent
periods of time for maintenance
12 payments to be made, but no single period
of reinstatement ordered by
13 the court may exceed 121 months.
Maintenance may be in a lump sum,
14 in periodic payments, on a percentage of
earnings or on any other basis.
15 At any time, on a hearing with reasonable
notice to the party affected,
16 the court may modify the amounts or other
conditions for the payment
17 of any portion of the maintenance
originally awarded that has not already
18 become due, but no modification shall be
made without the consent of
19 the party liable for the maintenance, if it
has the effect of increasing or
20 accelerating the liability for the unpaid
maintenance beyond what was
21 prescribed in the original decree. Every
order requiring payment of main-
22 tenance under this section shall require
that the maintenance be paid
23 through the clerk of the district court or
the court trustee except for good
24 cause shown.
25 (3) Separation
agreement. If the parties have entered into a separa-
26 tion agreement which the court finds to be
valid, just and equitable, the
27 agreement shall be incorporated in the
decree. The provisions of the
28 agreement on all matters settled by it
shall be confirmed in the decree
29 except that any provisions for the custody,
support or education of the
30 minor children shall be subject to the
control of the court in accordance
31 with all other provisions of this article.
Matters settled by an agreement
32 incorporated in the decree, other than
matters pertaining to the custody,
33 support or education of the minor children,
shall not be subject to sub-
34 sequent modification by the court except:
(A) As prescribed by the agree-
35 ment or (B) as subsequently consented to by
the parties.
36 (4) Costs and
fees. Costs and attorney fees may be awarded to either
37 party as justice and equity require. The
court may order that the amount
38 be paid directly to the attorney, who may
enforce the order in the attor-
39 ney's name in the same case.
40
(c) Miscellaneous matters. (1) Restoration of
name. Upon the request
41 of a spouse, the court shall order the
restoration of that spouse's maiden
42 or former name.
43 (2) Effective
date as to remarriage. Any marriage contracted by a
32
1 party, within or outside this state,
with any other person before a judg-
2 ment of divorce becomes final shall
be voidable until the decree of divorce
3 becomes final. An agreement which
waives the right of appeal from the
4 granting of the divorce and which is
incorporated into the decree or
5 signed by the parties and filed in
the case shall be effective to shorten
6 the period of time during which the
remarriage is voidable.
7 Sec.
51. K.S.A. 60-1611 is hereby amended to read as follows:
60-
8 1611. A judgment or decree of divorce
rendered in any other state or
9 territory of the United States, in
conformity with the laws thereof, shall
10 be given full faith and credit in this
state, except that, if the respondent
11 in the action, at the time of the judgment
or decree, was a resident of
12 this state and did not personally appear or
defend the action in the court
13 of that state or territory and that court
did not have jurisdiction over the
14 respondent's person, all matters relating
to maintenance, property rights
15 of the parties and support of the minor
children of the parties shall be
16 subject to inquiry and determination in any
proper action or proceeding
17 brought in the courts of this state within
two years after the date of the
18 foreign judgment or decree, to the same
extent as though the foreign
19 judgment or decree had not been rendered.
Nothing in this section shall
20 authorize a court of this state to enter
a custody decree, as defined in
21 K.S.A. 38-1302, child
custody determination, as defined in section 2 and
22 amendments thereto contrary to the
provisions of the uniform child cus-
23 tody jurisdiction act.
24 Sec.
52. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 60-3103 is hereby amended to read as
25 follows: 60-3103. Any district court shall
have jurisdiction over all pro-
26 ceedings under the protection from abuse
act. The right of a person to
27 obtain relief under the protection from
abuse act shall not be affected by
28 the person's leaving the residence or
household to avoid further abuse.
29 Any petition under this act seeking
orders regarding custody of a child
30 shall state that information required by
section 21, and amendments
31 thereto, and the basis under which
child-custody jurisdiction is sought to
32 be invoked.
33 Sec. 53. K.S.A. 38-1116, 38-1301
through 38-1326, 38-1335, 38-
34 1503, 59-2127, 59-2128, 60-1604, 60-1605
and 60-1611 and K.S.A. 1999
35 Supp. 59-3009, 60-1610 and 60-3103 are
hereby repealed.
36 Sec. 54. This act shall
take effect and be in force from and after its
37 publication in the statute book.