ÿWPC  …# VU:a %› 0@¡w@á4! 5 D 0„D 0DÈ   0J 0Td 0^¸ 0h 0r~ 0|ð 0†l 0ò 1u‚ U,÷ 0d# B‡U,¤U6Ð D3B)9DCb 0@¥ AMåU*2D\ è¢bŠ6ìv~"vÓ  AOsÆÂ 0Dˆ D/Ì Bû˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 <Ô6X9`+"Courier 10cpiX(ù$¡¡Ó  ÓÓ  Ó ¦R§U¨D©RªP«E¬R­U®U¯Ó€©U!xÔ3|xº(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  ÚóóH2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New&&&&'ÿÿdxd% Line 7 d++++7Border 1dd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-,Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial :Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€/ÔÔ€/ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€/XÔÌÌò òAugust€30,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€/ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó øÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòThere€is€no€issue€on€this€appeal€as€to€child€support.óóÌ ÞÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòWhile€all€fifty€states€have€passed€a€version€of€the€"Uniform€ChildÏCustody€Jurisdiction€Act"€and€have€generally€labeled€them€as€the€uniform€act,Ïthe€acts€of€the€several€jurisdictions€are€far€from€uniform.€€There€is€noÏsignificant€difference€between€the€acts€of€Tennessee€and€Alabama.óóÌ XÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòThis€statement€is€not€incorporated€into€the€final€judgment€of€the€trialÏcourt€but€appears€in€the€court's€announcement€of€its€decision€from€the€bench.óóÌ ,Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòIn€view€of€our€analysis€of€the€law€hereinafter€discussed,€€ðð€36„6„215Ïhas€no€application€to€this€case.óóÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA Op Monaco ÒÒ  BA Op Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€((X„d&ÓÑ#€((Xd#ÑÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ ¸ ÑÑ Ü ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€WtXXdÈdÈ7ÑÙ€€ÙßL€.0,;+'h|` Å `€€Lß›à@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCHRISTINE€CALLAHAN,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àKNOXÏCIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9603„CV„00116Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€BILL€œSWANN›Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌPATRICK€MICHAEL€CALLAHAN,€€€€€€€)à àREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellee€€€€)ÌÌÌÌÌLARRY€C.€VAUGHAN,€Vaughan€and€œZuker›,€Knoxville,€for€Appellant.ÌÌÌGEORGE€F.€œLEGG›,€Stone€and€Hinds,€P.C.,€Knoxville,€for€Appellee.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌà àThe€parties€to€this€appeal€were€divorced€in€Alabama.€€At€theÏtime€of€the€divorce,€the€parties€had€one€minor€child.€€Custody€wasÏgiven€to€the€plaintiff.€€Plaintiff€and€the€minor€child€moved€toÏTennessee€and€at€the€time€of€the€hearing€in€this€cause€had€beenÏliving€here€for€some€eighteen€months.€€The€plaintiff€filed€aÏ"Petition€for€Contempt€and€Petition€for€Modification€of€Visita…tion"€in€the€Fourth€Circuit€Court€of€Knox€County,€Tennessee.€ÏAfter€a€hearing€(on€argument€only),€the€court€ruled€that€it€didÏnot€have€jurisdiction€touching€matters€of€child€support.× ƒ1 ××  ×€€TheÏcourt€further€ruled€that€it€did€have€jurisdiction€on€those€mattersÏconcerning€custody€and€visitation€but€declined€"to€exercise€juris…diction€...€until€Alabama€deferred€to€Tennessee."€€Plaintiff'sÏpetition€was€dismissed.€€This€appeal€resulted.€€We€reverse€theÏjudgment€of€the€trial€court.ÌÌà àThe€sole€issue€before€us€is€whether€the€trial€court€erred€inÏdeclining€to€exercise€jurisdiction€under€the€Uniform€Child€CustodyÏJurisdiction€Act€(T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„201,€et€seq.,€and€œAla.›€œCode€Ann.›€ððÏ30„3„20,€et€seq.)€and€the€Federal€Parental€Kidnaping€PreventionÏAct€of€1980,€28€U.S.C.A.€ðð€1738,€and€all€relevant€Tennessee€Law.× ƒ2 ××  ×ÌÌà àFor€all€practical€purposes€and€insofar€as€this€case€is€con…cerned€the€Alabama€and€Tennessee€statutes€are€identical.€€We€œhave›Ïset€out€œthe€pertinent€parts€of€the›€applicable€œstatutes€from€eachÏjurisdiction›€œin€the€attached€appendix.ÌÌà àUnder€the€Tennessee€Act,€"home€state"€is€defined€in€T.C.A.€ððÏ36„6„202€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à(5)€"Home€state"€means€the€state€in€which€the€childÏimmediately€preceding€the€time€involved€lived€with€suchÏchild's€parents,€a€parent€or€a€person€acting€as€parent,Ïfor€at€least€six€(6)€consecutive€months,€and€in€the€caseÏof€a€child€less€than€six€(6)€months€old€the€state€inÏwhich€the€child€lived€from€birth€with€any€of€the€personsÍmentioned.€Periods€of€temporary€absence€of€any€of€theÏnamed€persons€are€counted€as€part€of€the€six€(6)€monthsÏor€other€period;ÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌÓÓÌà àSection€30„3„22(5)€of€the€Alabama€code€defines€"home€state"Ïas€follows:€ÌÓÓÌà8 àà àHome€state.€The€state€in€which€the€child,€immedi…ately€preceding€the€time€involved,€lived€with€his€par…ents,€a€parent,€or€a€person€acting€as€parent,€for€atÏleast€six€consecutive€months,€and€in€the€case€of€a€childÏless€than€six€months€old€the€state€in€which€the€childÏlived€from€birth€with€any€of€the€persons€mentioned.ÏPeriods€of€temporary€absence€of€any€of€the€named€personsÏare€counted€as€part€of€the€six„month€or€other€period;ÌÌÓÓÌà àIt€is€readily€apparent€that€these€definitions€for€all€practi…cal€purposes€are€identical.€€It€is€undisputed€that€the€child€hasÏlived€in€Tennessee€more€than€six€months.€€Without€question,€underÏeither€the€Alabama€or€Tennessee€statute,€Tennessee€is€the€"homeÏstate"€of€the€child€involved€in€this€case,€however,€we€note€thatÏ"home€state"€is€not€sufficient,€alone,€to€authorize€the€exerciseÏof€jurisdiction€by€the€courts€of€the€home€state.€€A€"home€state"Ïis€denied€the€authority€to€exercise€its€jurisdiction€if€at€theÍtime€of€the€filing€of€a€petition€in€the€home€state,€a€proceedingÏconcerning€custody€of€the€child€was€pending€in€a€court€of€anotherÏstate€and€that€state€was€exercising€jurisdiction€substantially€inÏconformity€with€the€Uniform€Custody€and€Visitation€Act.€€òòSeeóóÏT.C.A.€ðð€36„6„207;€Ala.€Code€ðð€30„3„26;€and,€U.S.C.€ðð€1738A(g)€ð"ðÏall€of€which€contain€identical€provisions.€€òòSee€alsoóó€òòCulp€v.€Culpóó,Ï917€S.W.2d€233€(Tenn.€App.€1995).ÌÌà àIn€òòBrown€v.€Brownóó,€847€S.W.2d€496€(Tenn.€1993)€the€SupremeÏCourt€granted€permission€to€appeal€to€examine€jurisdiction€of€theÏTennessee€courts€in€interstate€child€custody€disputes€under€theÏUniform€Child€Custody€Jurisdiction€Act.€€The€court€in€òòBrownóó€notedÏthat€the€Tennessee€Act€like€the€Federal€Parental€Kidnaping€Preven…tion€Act€prioritizes€grounds€for€the€exercise€of€child€custodyÏjurisdiction.€€The€first€priority€under€both€Tennessee€Law€and€theÏFederal€Act€is€to€grant€jurisdiction€to€the€"home€state."€We€wouldÏgo€one€step€further.€€Both€the€Alabama€statute€(Section€30„3„23ÏAla.€Code)€and€the€Tennessee€statute€(Section€36„6„203,€T.C.A.)Ïnot€only€prioritize€jurisdiction,€they€deny€jurisdiction€to€theirÏown€courts€when€the€circumstances€therein€enumerated€are€met.€ÍOtherwise€stated,€if€the€circumstances€enumerated€in€the€statuteÏare€not€met€then€there€is€no€jurisdiction.€€We€believe€this€to€beÏin€keeping€with€the€legislative€intent€in€all€applicable€statutes,Ïfederal€and€state.ÌÌà àSince€the€Alabama€statute€is,€for€all€practical€purposes,Ïidentical€to€Tennessee's,€we€must€conclude€that€Alabama€has€simi…larly€prioritized€jurisdiction€in€the€same€way€and€manner€asÏTennessee€and€the€Federal€Act€and€upon€Tennessee€becoming€the€homeÏstate,€Alabama€lost€jurisdiction.ÌÌà àSince€the›€Tennessee€Code,€the€Alabama€Code€and€the€U.S.€CodeÏall€give€first€priority€to€the€"home€state"€concept,€it€is€unnec…essary€to€discuss€other€manners€in€which€a€state€other€than€theÏ"home€state"€œmay›€exercise€jurisdiction.ÌÌà àThe€appellee€argues€vigorously€that€œAlabama€retains›€jurisdic…tion€of€the€custody€of€the€child€in€question€under€Alabama€Law.€ÏIt€is€insisted€by€the€defendant€that€in€òòEx€parte€œJ.R.Wóó.›,€667€So.2dÏ74€(Ala.€1994),€the€Alabama€Supreme€Court€determined€that€"once€aÍstate€had€obtained€jurisdiction€and€rendered€an€initial€custodyÏdetermination,€then€that€state€retains€preferential€jurisdictionÏover€subsequent€proceedings€in€another€state€pursuant€to€SectionÏ30„3„23€of€the€Alabama€Code."€€The€œerror›€of€this€argument€œisÏdemonstrated€by›€own€Supreme€Court's€opinion€œin€òòIn›€re€State€ofÏTennessee€ex€rel.€Cooper€v.€Hamiltonóó,€688€S.W.2d€821€(Tenn.€1985)Ïwherein€it€is€said:ÌÌà àT.C.A.€ðð€36„6„203(a)€provides€as€follows:€Ìà8 àÌÓÓà8 àà àà0 àA€court€of€this€state€which€is€competent€toÏdecide€child€custody€matters€has€jurisdictionÏto€make€a€child€custody€determination€byÏinitial€or€modification€decree€if:ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 à(1)€This€state:€ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 à(A)€Is€the€home€state€of€the€child€at€the€timeÏof€the€commencement€of€the€proceeding...€.€ÌÌÌà8 àà àClearly,€in€the€case€of€a€modification€proceeding,Ïthe€statute€has€reference€to€the€period€of€time€prior€toÏthe€institution€of€that€proceeding,€not€to€the€monthsÏpreceding€the€initial€custody€determination.€€Otherwise,Ïno€state€other€than€that€which€originally€rendered€theÏcustody€decree€could€have€authority€under€either€theÏfederal€or€the€state€statute€to€modify€an€initial€award.€ÌÌÓÓÌà àSince€T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„203(a)€and€Ala.€œCode€ðð›€30„3„23(a)€areÏidentical€in€this€respect,€we€must€respectfully€disagree€with€theÏposition€taken€by€the€œdefendant.›ÌÌà àWe€must€disagree€with€œthe›€argument€as€advanced€by€the€defen…dant€for€yet€another€reason.€€In€òòEx€parte€œJ.R.Wóó.›,€the€court€wasÏdealing€with€a€case€wherein€Texas€had€assumed€jurisdiction€at€aÏtime€when€Alabama€was€actively€exercising€jurisdiction,€òòi.eóó.,€theÏœexception€to€the€"home›€state"€œrule›€noted€earlier€in€this€opinion.€ÏInsofar€as€we€are€able€to€ascertain€from€the€record,€such€is€notÏthe€case€here.ÌÌà àAbsent€ongoing€litigation€in€Alabama€under€prioritized€juris…diction,€Tennessee,€as€the€home€œstate,›€has€jurisdiction€ð"ð€AlabamaÏdoes€not.€€The€trial€court€œhere›€apparently€relied€on€a€statementÏin€the€Alabama€decree€that€"[œj]uris‚diction›€be€and€hereby€is€re…tained€in€this€cause€as€to€any€further€or€future€orders€or€decreesÏas€to€care,€custody€and€maintenance€of€said€minor€child€as€theÏcourt€may€deem€proper€and€as€changed€conditions€may€require."× ƒ3 ××  ×€€ItÍshould€be€remembered€that€child€custody€cases€are€differ‚ent€fromÏmost€other€cases€in€that€a€court€which€has€jurisdiction€to€renderÏa€custody€œdecree,€ordinarily›€has€the€inherent€authority€to€retainÏthe€case€on€its€œdocket€for€future€custody€questions›€until€theÏchild€reaches€its€majority.€€Thus,€a€recitation€of€the€court€inÏits€judgment€that€it€is€retaining€jurisdiction€for€that€purpose€isÏpure€surplusage.€€If€such€a€provision€in€a€decree€of€a€sisterÏstate€were€sufficient€to€retain€œjurisdiction›€in€that€state,€itÏœwould›€nullify€the€purposes€of€both€the€Federal€Parental€KidnapingÏPrevention€Act€and€the€Uniform€Child€Custody€Jurisdiction€Act.€€ItÏis€elementary€jurisprudence€that€if€there€is€a€conflict€between€aÏstate€law€and€a€federal€law,€the€federal€law€must€prevail€underÏthe€Supremacy€Clause€of€the€United€States€Constitution.€€We€be…lieve€that€it€is€implicit€in€the€Alabama€decree€that€the€AlabamaÏœCourt€intended€to›€œretain›€jurisdiction€only€as€long€as€the€decreeÏdid€not€conflict€with€the€Federal€Parental€Kidnaping€PreventionÏAct€and€the€Uniform€Child€Custody€Jurisdiction€œAct.›€œSince›€AlabamaÏhad€statutorily€prioritized€jurisdiction€granting€to€the€"homeÏstate"€first€priority,€jurisdiction€œvested›€in€Tennessee€œupon›ÏTennessee€becoming€the€"home€œstate."›ÌÌà àIt,€therefore,€must€follow€that€the€"home€state"€under€theÏprioritized€jurisdiction€scheme€has€jurisdiction€notwithstanding€aÏprovision€in€a€sister€state's€decree€that€jurisdiction€is€retainedÏunless€the€jurisdiction€is€being€actively€exercised€as€in€òòEx€parteÏœJ.R.Wóó.›€€In€this€case,€as€previously€noted,€we€cannot€from€theÏrecord€before€us,€determine€whether€the€Alabama€court€œwas›€œor€wasÏnot›€œactively›€exercising€its€jurisdiction€at€the€time€this€actionÏwas€instituted.€€It€is€incumbent€upon€the€trial€court€to€ascer…tain,€in€a€manner€consistent€with€existing€law,€œwhether›€the€Ala…bama€court€was€œactively›€exercising€its€jurisdiction€before€defer…ring€to€Alabama.€€òòSeeóó€T.C.A.€ðð€36„6„210.ÌÌà àJurisdiction€is€œlimited€to›€one€state€at€a€time.€òòSeeóó€òòœWilcox›€v.ÏœWilcox›óó,€862€S.W.2d€533€(Tenn.€App.€1993)€and€òòBrown€v.€Brownóó,€847ÏS.W.2d€œ496€(Tenn.€1993).›€€We€believe€our€analysis€is€in€keepingÏwith€òòœWilcox›óó€and€œòòBrownóó.›ÌÌà àThe€defendant€vigorously€asserts€that€U.S.C.€ðð€1738A(d)Ïprovides€for€the€continuing€jurisdiction€of€a€state€court€whichÏhas€made€an€initial€custody€determination.ÌÌà àSection€1738A(d)€provides€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà à(d)à àThe€jurisdiction€of€a€court€of€a€State€whichÏhas€made€a€child€custody€determination€consistently€withÏthe€provisions€of€this€section€continues€as€long€as€theÏrequirements€of€subsection€(c)(1)€of€this€section€con…tinues€to€be€met€and€such€State€remains€the€residence€ofÏthe€child€or€of€any€contestant.ÌÌÓÓÌà àIt€seems€clear€that€the€defendant's€argument€has€merit€œif›€theÏrequirements€of€subsection€(c)(1)€continued€to€be€met€at€the€timeÏof€the€filing€of€the€present€action.€€Therefore,€œit€is›€incumbentÏupon€us€to€examine€subsection€(c)(1).ÌÌà àSubsection€(c)(1)€provides€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àA€child€custody€determination€made€by€a€court€of€a€ÏState€is€consistent€with€the€provisions€of€this€sectionÏonly€if€ð"ðÌÌà8 àà0 à(1)à àsuch€court€ò òòòhasó óóó€jurisdiction€under€the€law€ofÏsuch€State;€(emphasis€added).ÌÌà8 àà0 àandÌÌà@ à*€€€€€*€€€€€*€€€€€*ÌÌÓÓÌà àœWe›€respectfully€disagree€with€the€defendant.€€As€pointed€outÏabove,€Alabama€in€adopting€its€version€of€the€Uniform€Child€Custo…dy€Jurisdiction€Act,€did€not€simply€defer€to€a€"home€state"€butÏœdenied€to€its›€courts€juris‚diction€when€a€sister€state€became€theÏ"home€state"€of€the€child‚€under€the€plain€terms€of€Ala.€œCode›€ððÏœ30„3„23.›€€œAlabama›€does€not€have€jurisdiction€as€contemplated€inÏSection€1738A(c)(1)Ô% € Ô€of€the€€Federal€Parental€Kidnaping€PreventionÏAct.ÌÌà àœWe€find€that€subsection€(c)(1)€does€not€apply€and,€therefore,Ïit€does€not€preserve€the›€jurisdiction€of€the€Alabama€œcourt.›ÌÌà àIn€a€final€argument,€the€defendant€question€the€correctnessÏof€the€Court's€decision€in€òòBrownóó,€asserting€that€the€earlier€deƒcision€in€òòCooperóó€has€not€been€overruled€and€that€the€analysisÏcontained€therein€is€correct€and€in€accordance€with€federal€caseÍlaw.€€We€are€not€at€liberty€to€question€the€decision€in€òòBrownóó.€ÏAny€conflicts€in€òòBrownóó€and€òòCooperóó€must€be€resolved€in€favor€ofÏòòBrownóó€since€òòBrownóó€is€the€latest€authority.€€As€an€inter‚mediateÏappellate€court€we€are€not€at€liberty€to€disregard€the€teachingsÏof€our€Supreme€Court.ÌÌà àIn€conclusion,€we€œnote€that›€a€Tennessee€Court,€possessingÏjurisdiction,€may€defer€to€Alabama€œif€proper›€conditions€œare€met.€ÏòòSeeóó€€T.C.A.€ðð36„6„208€and€òòBrownóó,€supra.€€Tennessee€courts€possess…ing€jurisdiction,›€however,€may€not€wait€for€another€state€lackingÏjurisdiction€to€defer€to€œTennessee.€€We€do€not€express€any€opinionÏas€to€whether€this€is€a€proper€case€to€defer€to€another€jurisdic…tion.ÌÌà àWe€hold€that€it€was€error€for€the€trial€court€to€decline€toÏexercise€its€jurisdiction€until€Alabama€deferred€to€Tennessee.€€WeÏreverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€This€case€is€remandedÏfor€such€other€and€further€action€as€may€be€necessary€in›€œconformi…ty›€with€this€opinion.ÌÌÓÓà àCosts€are€taxed€to€the€œdefendant.Ì›ÌÌÌà€ à______________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Don€T.€McMurray,€J.ÌÌÌœCONCUR:›ÌÌÌ___________________________________ÌHouston€M.€Goddard,€Presiding€JudgeÌÌÌœ___________________________________›ÌCharles€D.€Susano,€Jr.,€JudgeÌÌœÇÓÓà@ àòòAPPENDIXóóÌà@ àò òTHE€TENNESSEE€CODEó óÌà àT.C.A.€ðð€36„6„203€provides€follows:ÌÌÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ  ÒÓÓò ò36„6„203€Jurisdiction€to€make€custody€determina…tions.€ð"ð€ó ó(a)€€A€court€of€this€state€which€is€competentÏto€decide€child€custody€matters€has€jurisdiction€to€makeÏa€child€custody€determination€by€initial€or€modificationÏdecree€if:Ì€Ìà à(1)€This€state:Ì€Ìà0 àà à(A)€Is€the€home€state€of€the€child€at€the€timeÏof€commencement€of€the€proceeding;€orÌ€Ìà0 àà à(B)€Had€been€the€child's€home€state€within€sixÏ(6)€months€before€commencement€of€the€proceedingÏand€the€child€is€absent€from€this€state€because€ofÏthe€child's€removal€or€retention€by€a€person€claim…ing€custody€or€for€other€reasons,€and€a€parent€orÏperson€acting€as€parent€continues€to€live€in€thisÏstate;€or€ÌÌà0 à(2)€(A)€It€appears€that€no€state€has€jurisdictionÏunder€subdivision€(a)(1),€or€each€state€with€juris…diction€under€subdivision€(a)(1)€has€declined€toÏexercise€jurisdiction€on€the€ground€that€this€stateÏis€the€more€appropriate€forum€to€determine€theÏcustody€of€the€child;€and€ÌÌà0 àà à(B)€The€child€and€at€least€one€(1)€contestantÏhave€a€significant€connection€with€this€state;€andÌ€Ìà0 àà à(C)€There€is€available€in€this€state€substan…tial€evidence€concerning€the€child's€present€orÍfuture€care,€protection,€training€and€personalÏrelationship;€and€ÌÌà0 àà à(D)€It€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€childÏthat€a€court€of€this€state€assume€jurisdiction;€orÌ€Ìà0 à(3)€It€appears€that€no€state€has€jurisdiction€underÏsubdivision€(a)(1)€or€(2)€or€each€state€has€refusedÏjurisdiction€on€the€ground€that€this€is€the€moreÏappropriate€forum€to€determine€child€custody,€andÏit€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child€that€aÏcourt€of€this€state€assume€jurisdiction.€ÌÌ(b)€€Except€under€subdivision€(a)(3),€physical€presenceÏin€this€state€of€the€child,€or€of€the€child€and€one€(1)Ïof€the€contestants,€is€not€alone€sufficient€to€conferÏjurisdiction€on€a€court€of€this€state€to€make€a€childÏcustody€determination.€ÌÌ(c)€€Physical€presence€of€the€child,€while€desirable,€isÏnot€a€prerequisite€for€jurisdiction€to€determine€his€orÏher€custody.€ÌÌ(d)€€Jurisdiction€shall€not€be€exercised€to€modify€anÏexisting€custody€decree€except€in€accordance€with€ððÏ36„6„215.× ƒ4 ××  ×ÌÌÌÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ ° Òà àT.C.A.€36„6„208€provides€as€follows:ÌÌòòà8 àò ò36„6„208.€Proceedings€under€finding€of€inconve…nient€forumóóó ó.€(a)€€A€court€which€has€jurisdiction€underÏthis€part€to€make€an€initial€or€modification€decree€mayÏdecline€to€exercise€its€jurisdiction€any€time€beforeÏmaking€a€decree€if€it€finds€that€it€is€an€inconvenientÏforum€to€make€a€custody€determination€under€the€circum…stances€of€the€case€and€that€a€court€of€another€state€isÍa€more€appropriate€forum.€The€court€may€appoint€a€guard…ian€ad€litem€to€represent€the€child€if€the€court€findsÏsuch€appointment€to€be€in€the€best€interest€of€theÏchild.€The€court€may,€in€its€discretion,€order€that€theÏguardian€ad€litem's€fee€be€paid€by€one€(1),€or€in€partÏby€both,€of€the€contesting€parties.€Ìà8 àÌà8 àà à(b)€€A€finding€of€inconvenient€forum€may€be€madeÏupon€the€court's€own€motion€or€upon€motion€of€a€party€orÏa€guardian€ad€litem€or€other€representative€of€theÏchild.€ÌÌà8 àà à(c)€€In€determining€if€it€is€an€inconvenient€forum,Ïthe€court€shall€consider€if€it€is€in€the€interest€of€theÏchild€that€another€state€assume€jurisdiction.€For€thisÏpurpose€it€may€take€into€account€the€following€factors,Ïamong€others:€ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à(1)à àIf€another€state€is€or€recently€was€the€child'sÏhome€state;€ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à(2)à àIf€another€state€has€a€closer€connection€with€theÏchild€and€family€or€with€the€child€and€one€(1)€orÏmore€of€the€contestants;€ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à(3)à àIf€substantial€evidence€concerning€the€child'sÏpresent€or€future€care,€protection,€training,€andÏpersonal€relationships€is€more€readily€available€inÏanother€state;€ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à(4)à àIf€the€parties€have€agreed€on€another€forum€whichÏis€no€less€appropriate;€andÌ€Ìà8 àà0 àà à(5)à àIf€the€exercise€of€jurisdiction€by€a€court€of€thisÏstate€would€contravene€any€of€the€purposes€statedÏin€ðð€36„6„201.€ÌÌà8 àà à(d)€€Before€determining€whether€to€decline€orÏretain€jurisdiction,€the€court€may€communicate€with€aÏcourt€of€another€state€and€exchange€information€perti…nent€to€the€assumption€of€jurisdiction€by€either€courtÏwith€a€view€to€assuring€that€jurisdiction€will€be€exer…cised€by€the€more€appropriate€court€and€that€a€forumÏwill€be€available€to€the€parties.€ÌÌà8 àà à(e)€€If€the€court€finds€that€it€is€an€inconvenientÏforum€and€that€a€court€of€another€state€is€a€more€appro…priate€forum,€it€may€dismiss€the€proceedings,€or€it€mayÏstay€the€proceedings€upon€condition€that€a€custodyÏproceeding€be€promptly€commenced€in€another€named€stateÏor€upon€any€other€conditions€which€may€be€just€andÏproper,€including€the€condition€that€a€moving€partyÏstipulate€consent€and€submission€to€the€jurisdiction€ofÏthe€other€forum.€ÌÌà8 àà à(f)€€The€court€may€decline€to€exercise€its€juris…diction€under€this€part€if€a€custody€determination€isÏincidental€to€an€action€for€divorce€or€another€proceed…ing€while€retaining€jurisdiction€over€the€divorce€orÏother€proceeding.€ÌÌà8 àà à(g)€€If€it€appears€to€the€court€that€it€is€clearlyÏan€inappropriate€forum,€it€may€require€the€party€whoÏcommenced€the€proceedings€to€pay,€in€addition€to€theÏcosts€of€the€proceedings€in€this€state,€necessary€travelÏand€other€expenses,€including€attorneys'€fees,€incurredÏby€other€parties€or€their€witnesses.€Payment€is€to€beÏmade€to€the€clerk€of€the€court€for€remittance€to€theÏproper€party.€ÌÌà8 àà à(h)€€Upon€dismissal€or€stay€of€proceedings€underÏthis€section,€the€court€shall€inform€the€court€found€toÏbe€the€more€appropriate€forum€of€this€fact€or,€if€theÏcourt€which€would€have€jurisdiction€in€the€other€stateÏis€not€certainly€known,€shall€transmit€the€informationÏto€the€court€administrator€or€other€appropriate€officialÏfor€forwarding€to€the€appropriate€court.€ÌÌà8 àà à(i)€Any€communication€received€from€another€stateÏinforming€this€state€of€a€finding€of€inconvenient€forumÍbecause€a€court€of€this€state€is€the€more€appropriateÏforum€shall€be€filed€in€the€custody€registry€of€theÏappropriate€court.€Upon€assuming€jurisdiction,€the€courtÏof€this€state€shall€inform€the€original€court€of€thisÏfact.ÌÌÌà àSection€36„6„209€provides€in€pertinent€part€as€follows:ò òà àÌÌà8 àà à36„6„209.€Declining€jurisdiction.ó ó€€(a)€If€theÏpetitioner€for€an€initial€decree€has€wrongfully€takenÏthe€child€from€another€state€or€has€engaged€in€similarÏreprehensible€conduct,€the€court€may€decline€to€exerciseÏjurisdiction€if€this€is€just€and€proper€under€the€cir…cumstances.Ìà8 àà à(b)€€Unless€required€in€the€interest€of€the€childÏand€subject€to€ðð€36„6„215(a),€the€court€shall€not€exer…cise€its€jurisdiction€to€modify€a€custody€decree€ofÏanother€state€if€the€petitioner,€without€consent€of€theÏperson€entitled€to€custody,€has€improperly€removed€theÏchild€from€the€physical€custody€of€the€person€entitledÏto€custody€or€has€improperly€retained€the€child€after€aÏvisit€or€other€temporary€relinquishment€of€physicalÏcustody.€If€the€petitioner€has€violated€any€other€provi…sion€of€a€custody€decree€of€another€state,€the€court,Ïsubject€to€ðð€36„6„215(a),€may€decline€to€exercise€itsÏjurisdiction€if€this€is€just€and€proper€under€the€cir…cumstances.€ÌÌà8 àà à(c)€€In€appropriate€cases,€a€court€dismissing€aÏpetition€under€this€section€may€charge€the€petitionerÏwith€necessary€travel€and€other€expenses,€includingÏattorneys'€fees,€incurred€by€other€parties€or€theirÏwitnesses.ÌÌÌÌà@ àÌà@ àò òTHE€ALABAMA€CODEó óÌÌà àThe€Alabama€Code€provides€as€follows:ÌÌÌà8 àà@ àARTICLE€2.€UNIFORM€CHILD€CUSTODY€JURISDICTION€ACT.ÌÌà8 àà àSection€30„3„23€€Jurisdiction€to€make€child€custodyÏdeter‚mination;€effect€of€physical€presence€of€child.ÌÌà8 àà à(a)€A€court€of€this€state€which€is€competent€toÏdecide€child€custody€matters€has€jurisdiction€to€make€aÏchild€custody€determination€by€initial€or€€modificationÏdecree€if:Ì€€€€Ìà8 à(1)€This€state:ÌÌà0 àà8 àà àa.€Is€the€home€state€of€the€child€at€the€timeÏof€commencement€of€the€proceeding;€orÌÌà0 àà8 àà àb.€Had€been€the€child's€home€state€within€sixÏmonths€before€commencement€of€the€proceeding€andÏthe€child€is€absent€from€this€state€because€of€hisÏremoval€or€retention€by€a€person€claiming€hisÏcustody€or€for€other€reasons,€and€a€parent€orÏperson€acting€as€parent€continues€to€live€in€thisÏstate;€orÌÌà8 àà0 àà à(2)à àIt€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€child€that€aÏcourt€of€this€state€assume€jurisdiction€because:ÌÌà0 àà8 àà àa.€The€child€and€his€parents,€or€the€child€andÏat€least€one€contestant,€have€a€significant€connec…tion€with€this€state;€andÌÌà àà8 àà àb.€There€is€available€in€this€stateÏsubstantial€evidence€concerning€the€child'sÏpresent€or€future€care,€protection,€training,Ïand€personal€relationships;€orÌà àÌà à(3)€The€child€is€physically€present€in€this€state€and:ÌÌà àà0 àà àa.€The€child€has€been€abandoned;€orÌÌà àà0 àà0 àà àà8 àb.€It€is€necessary€in€an€emergency€to€protect€theÏchild€because€he€has€been€subjected€to€or€threat…ened€with€mistreatment€or€abuse€or€is€otherwiseÏneglected€or€dependent;€orÌÌà0 à(4)à àa.€It€appears€that€no€other€state€would€have€jurisdic…tion€under€prerequisites€substantially€in€accordance€withÏsubdivisions€(1),€(2),€or€(3),€or€another€state€has€declinedÏto€exercise€jurisdiction€on€the€ground€that€this€state€is€theÏmore€appropriate€forum€to€determine€the€custody€of€the€child;ÏandÌÌà8 àà0 àà àb.€It€is€in€the€best€interest€of€the€childÏthat€a€court€of€this€state€assume€jurisdiction.ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(b)à àExcept€under€subdivisions€(3)€and€(4)€ofÏsubsection€(a),€physical€€presence€in€thisÏstate€of€the€child,€or€of€the€child€and€one€ofÏthe€contestants,€is€not€alone€sufficient€toÏconfer€jurisdiction€on€a€court€of€this€stateÏto€make€a€child€custody€determination.ÌÌà0 àà àà8 àà0 àà àà à(c)à àPhysical€presence€of€the€child,€while€desirable,€isÏnot€a€prerequisite€for€jurisdiction€to€determine€hisÏcustody.ÌÌÇÑ  ÑÑ7€ÕâXXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌCHRISTINE€CALLAHAN,€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àKNOX€CIRCUITÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9603„CV„00116Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiff„Appellant€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€BILL€SWANNÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌPATRICK€MICHAEL€CALLAHAN,€€€€€€€)à àREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendant„Appellee€€€€)ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àò òòòORDERóóó óÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Knox€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÏUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€thatÏthere€was€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.Ìà àWe€hold€that€it€was€error€for€the€trial€court€to€decline€toÏexercise€its€jurisdiction€until€Alabama€deferred€to€Tennessee.€€WeÏreverse€the€judgment€of€the€trial€court.€€This€case€is€remandedÏfor€such€other€and€further€action€as€may€be€necessary€in€conformi…ty€with€this€opinion.ÌÓÓà àCosts€are€taxed€to€the€defendant.ÌÌÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAMÌ›