Schrock v. Schrock

ARNOLD, Judge. Defendant contends that the trial court erred by not giving full faith and credit to the Michigan court’s jurisdictional findings and the court’s custody award. We disagree. The issue of a state court’s jurisdiction over child custody matters is governed by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (hereinafter U.C.C.J.A.) and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (hereinafter P.K.P.A.). G.S. 50A; 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1738A. The P.K.P.A. states A court of a State shall not exercise jurisdiction in any proceeding for a custody determination commenced during the pendency of a proceeding in a court of another State where such court of that other State is exercising jurisdiction consistently with the provisions of this section to make a custody determination. 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1738A(g). (Emphasis added.) The U.C.C.J.A. states If at the time of filing the petition a proceeding concerning the custody of the child was pending in a court of another state exercising jurisdiction substantially in conformity with this Chapter, a court of this State shall not exercise its jurisdiction under this Chapter, unless the proceeding is stayed by the court of the other state because this State is a more appropriate forum or for other reasons. G.S. 50A-6(a). (Emphasis added.) Since the Michigan petition was filed before the North Carolina action was commenced, the issue *310 is whether Michigan was exercising jurisdiction consistent with the P.K.P.A. and the U.C.C.J.A. If Michigan was exercising jurisdiction substantially in conformity with the acts, then North Carolina should have refrained from exercising jurisdiction over the custody dispute. The P.K.P.A. states that a child custody determination is made consistent with its provisions if: (1) such court has jurisdiction under the law of such State; and (2) one of the following conditions is met: (A) such State (i) is the home State of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding, or (ii) had been the child’s home State within six months before the date of the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from such State because of his removal or retention by a contestant or for other reasons, and a contestant continues to live in such State; (B) (i) it appears that no other State would have jurisdiction under subparagraph (A), and (ii) it is in the best interest of the child that a court of such State assume jurisdiction because (I) the child and his parents, or the child and at least one contestant, have a significant connection with such State other than mere physical presence in such State, and (II) there is available in such State substantial evidence concerning the child’s present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships; (C) the child is physically present in such State and (i) the child has been abandoned, or (ii) it is necessary in an emergency to protect the child because he has been subjected to or threatened with mistreatment or abuse; (D) (i) it appears that no other State would have jurisdiction under subparagraph (A), (B), (C), or (E), or another State has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that the State whose jurisdiction is in issue is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child, and (ii) it is in the best interest of the child that such court assume jurisdiction; or *311 (E) the court has continuing jurisdiction pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1738A(c). Condition (A) is not met because at no time has Michigan been the “home State” of the child. “Home State” is defined as “the State in which, immediately preceding the time involved, the child lived with his parents, a parent, or a person acting as parent, for at least six consecutive months. . . . Periods of temporary absence of any such persons are counted as part of the six-month or other period.” 28 U.S.C. Sec. 1738A(b)(4). Brian has only spent approximately four months of his life in Michigan and the definition of “home State” requires a period of six consecutive months. Condition (B) is not met because at the time of the Michigan proceeding, it did appear that North Carolina would have jurisdiction under subparagraph (A). Excluding the four months spent in Michigan, Brian had lived his entire life in North Carolina. Although Brian was not actually in North Carolina for the entire six-month period preceding the filing of the Michigan action, the “home State” definition states that “(p)eriods of temporary absence . . . are counted as part of the six-month or other period.” Since North Carolina was Brian’s “home State” Michigan could not gain jurisdiction under subsection (B). Appellant does not argue and it is clear that Michigan could not establish jurisdiction of the present custody determination under conditions (C) or (D). Therefore, defendant’s contention that the trial court erred by not giving full faith and credit to the Michigan court’s custody award is incorrect. Defendant also contends that “the trial court’s order does not contain sufficient findings of fact to permit meaningful appellate review by this Court.” Defendant bases her contention upon exceptions numbered 3 and 4. These exceptions, however, make no mention of the order not containing sufficient findings of fact. An exception not set out in the record on appeal or in the verbatim transcript of the proceedings may not be the basis of an assignment of error on appeal. N.C. App. R., Rule 10. Defendant may not raise these exceptions. *312 Appellant’s final contention is that the trial court abused its discretion in awarding custody to plaintiff. After careful review, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion. Both of the parties were judged to be fit parents. The trial court determined, however, that it was best for Brian to remain with his father in North Carolina where the father had established an effective child care plan for his son in an environment that Brian was accustomed to and in which he had spent most of his life. There was no abuse of discretion by the trial court. No error. Judges Phillips and Cozort concur.