Ch. 502                                    2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(B)     ON REQUEST OF A COURT OF ANOTHER STATE, A COURT OF THIS STATE
MAY HOLD A HEARING OR ENTER AN ORDER DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS
SECTION.

(C)     TRAVEL AND OTHER NECESSARY AND REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED
UNDER SUBSECTIONS (A) AND (B) OF THIS SECTION MAY BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE
PARTIES ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF THIS STATE.

(D)     (1) A COURT OF THIS STATE SHALL PRESERVE THE PLEADINGS, ORDERS,
DECREES, RECORDS OF HEARINGS, EVALUATIONS, AND OTHER PERTINENT RECORDS
WITH RESPECT TO A CHILD CUSTODY PROCEEDING UNTIL THE CHILD ATTAINS 18
YEARS OF AGE.

(2) ON APPROPRIATE REQUEST BY A COURT OR LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIAL OF ANOTHER STATE, THE COURT SHALL FORWARD A CERTIFIED COPY OF
THOSE RECORDS.

SUBTITLE 2. JURISDICTION.

9.5-201.

(A) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN § 9.5-204 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A
COURT OF THIS STATE HAS JURISDICTION TO MAKE AN INITIAL CHILD CUSTODY
DETERMINATION ONLY IF:

(1)      THIS STATE IS THE HOME STATE OF THE CHILD ON THE DATE OF THE
COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROCEEDING, OR WAS THE HOME STATE OF THE CHILD
WITHIN 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE PROCEEDING AND THE
CHILD IS ABSENT FROM THIS STATE BUT A PARENT OR PERSON ACTING AS A PARENT
CONTINUES TO LIVE IN THIS STATE;

(2)      A COURT OF ANOTHER STATE DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION UNDER
ITEM (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION, OR A COURT OF THE HOME STATE OF THE CHILD HAS
DECLINED TO EXERCISE JURISDICTION ON THE GROUND THAT THIS STATE IS THE
MORE APPROPRIATE FORUM UNDER § 9.5-207 OR § 9.5-208 OF THIS SUBTITLE, AND:

(I)      THE CHILD AND THE CHILD'S PARENTS, OR THE CHILD AND AT
LEAST ONE PARENT OR A PERSON ACTING AS A PARENT, HAVE A SIGNIFICANT
CONNECTION WITH THIS STATE OTHER THAN MERE PHYSICAL PRESENCE; AND

(II)     SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE IN THIS STATE
CONCERNING THE CHILD'S CARE, PROTECTION, TRAINING, AND PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS;

(3)      ALL COURTS HAVING JURISDICTION UNDER ITEM (1) OR (2) OF THIS
SUBSECTION HAVE DECLINED TO EXERCISE JURISDICTION ON THE GROUND THAT A
COURT OF THIS STATE IS THE MORE APPROPRIATE FORUM TO DETERMINE THE
CUSTODY OF THE CHILD UNDER § 9.5-207 OR § 9.5-208 OF THIS SUBTITLE; OR

(4)      NO COURT OF ANY OTHER STATE WOULD HAVE JURISDICTION
UNDER THE CRITERIA SPECIFIED IN ITEM (1), (2), OR (3) OF THIS SUBSECTION.

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