Emergency Jurisdiction [Family Law] Law and Legal Definition
Emergency jurisdiction as used in Family law refers to a court's ability to take jurisdiction of a child who is physically present in the state when that child has been abandoned or when necessary to protect the child from abuse. Section 3(a)(3) of the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UCCJA) allows for emergency jurisdiction. The overwhelming weight of case law interprets the UCCJA emergency provisions as granting only the authority to make temporary decisions designed to preserve the status quo and the life of the child long enough to protect the child.
