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May 12, 2024 Clouds | 58°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  3. Title III DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  4. Chapter 209D UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT
  5. Article 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
  6. Section 2-204 Simultaneous proceedings

Section 2-204

Section 2-204: Simultaneous proceedings

Section 2–204. Simultaneous proceedings.

(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country only if:

(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the commonwealth is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state or the foreign country for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or the foreign country;

(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state or the foreign country; and

(3) if relevant, the commonwealth is the home state of the child.

(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country if:

(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the other state or foreign country is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the commonwealth for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the commonwealth;

(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the commonwealth; and

(3) if relevant, the other state or foreign country is the home state of the child.