H.L.K. v. F.A.A. ( 2015 )

J-A07045-15
NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37
H.L.K. IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
PENNSYLVANIA
Appellee
v.
F.A.A.
Appellant No. 1831 WDA 2014
Appeal from the Order Entered October 23, 2014
In the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County
Family Court at No(s): FD09-07348-009
BEFORE: BENDER, P.J.E., LAZARUS, J., and MUNDY, J.
MEMORANDUM BY MUNDY, J.: FILED AUGUST 28, 2015
Appellant, F.A.A. (Father) appeals from the October 23, 2014 order,
concluding that the family court had jurisdiction to make an initial custody
determination pursuant to Section 5421(a) of the Uniform Child Custody
Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5401-5482. The
order further declined to register the custody order issued in the Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia pursuant to Section 5445(d)(1) and under principles of comity.
After careful review, we affirm.
The relevant factual background, as gleaned from the certified record,
follows. H.L.K. (Mother), a citizen of the United States, and Father, a citizen
of Saudi Arabia, married in Allegheny County in 1994. Family Court Opinion,
10/23/14, at 2. That same year, the parties moved to Saudi Arabia, where
their son, M.A.R., was born in October 1996, and their daughters, M.A.R.
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and M.A.R., were born in January 2000, and September 2001. Id. The
three children are dual citizens of the United States and of Saudi Arabia. Id.
Mother and Father divorced in October 2012, and Mother returned
alone to the United States. Family Court Opinion, 10/23/14, at 2. In June
2013, Father permitted the three children to visit Mother for the summer
months in Allegheny County. Id. The parties’ daughters have remained
with Mother in Allegheny County since that time, but the parties’ son
returned to Saudi Arabia on August 18, 2013. Id. at 3.
The procedural history of this case may be summarized as follows. In
August of 2013, Mother filed a pro se complaint for custody in Allegheny
County, wherein she requested primary custody of the three children. Id.
By order dated August 7, 2013, the family court granted Mother’s custody
request. On October 9, 2013, Father filed an emergency motion to vacate
the order, wherein he alleged that he did not receive timely notice of the
complaint, and that the family court lacked jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
Id. On November 7, 2013, the family court vacated the custody order and
assumed interim emergency jurisdiction pending a hearing on jurisdiction,
which occurred on March 26, 2014. Id. at 3-4. By order dated April 2,
2014, the family court found that it did not have jurisdiction over the
custody action. Id. at 4; Order, 4/2/14.
Thereafter, on April 17, 2014, Father initiated a custody action in
Saudi Arabia, wherein he sought custody of the three children. Family Court
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Opinion, 10/23/14, at 4. On May 23, 2014, Mother filed a second custody
complaint in Allegheny County, wherein she sought primary physical and
shared legal custody of the parties’ daughters.1 Id.; Complaint for Custody,
5/23/14. On May 27, 2014, the family court issued a rule to show cause
upon Mother to show why her second complaint should not be dismissed for
lack of jurisdiction. Family Court Opinion, 10/23/14, at 4.
On July 17, 2014, a Saudi Arabian court issued a custody order that
granted Father sole custody of the parties’ daughters. Family Court Order,
7/17/14. On July 25, 2014, Father filed in Allegheny County a request for
registration of the child custody order in Saudi Arabia. On August 11, 2014,
Mother filed an objection to the registration and enforcement of the foreign
custody order.
The family court held a hearing on both the jurisdictional and
registration issues on October 9, 2014, during which Mother testified. The
family court found, in part, that it has jurisdiction over Mother’s second
custody complaint, and that the order “entered in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia dated July 17, 2014 shall not be registered and is not entitled to
enforcement in this Commonwealth[.]” Family Court Order, 10/23/14, at
¶ 3.
____________________________________________
1
Mother did not request custody of the parties’ son, who is now eighteen
years old and living in Saudi Arabia. As such, he is not a subject of this
appeal.
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On November 5, 2014, Father filed a notice of appeal and a concise
statement of errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P.
1925(a)(2)(i). By order dated November 12, 2014, the family court stated
that the reasons for the subject order “already appear of record in [the
family court’s] Memorandum dated October 23, 2014….” Order, 11/12/14.
On appeal, Father raises the following issues for our review.
[1.] Is Pennsylvania the home state of the minor
children?
[2.] Did the temporary absence exception to the
home state rule apply?
[3.] Did Mother engage in unjustifiable conduct when
retaining the children?
[4.] Should the [family] court have proceeded when
there was a custody action pending in Saudi Arabia?
[5.] Should the Saudi Custody Order be registered
with the [family] court?
Father’s Brief at vi.
Our standard of review for decisions involving jurisdiction is as follows.
A court’s decision to exercise or decline jurisdiction is
subject to an abuse of discretion standard of review
and will not be disturbed absent an abuse of
discretion. Under Pennsylvania law an abuse of
discretion occurs when the court has overridden or
misapplied the law, when its judgment is manifestly
unreasonable, or when there is insufficient evidence
of record to support the court’s findings. An abuse
of discretion requires clear and convincing evidence
that the [family] court misapplied the law or failed to
follow proper legal procedures.
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Wagner v. Wagner, 887 A.2d 282, 285 (Pa. Super. 2005) (citation
omitted).
Instantly, the family court concluded that it had jurisdiction to make
an initial custody determination pursuant to Section 5421(a) of the UCCJEA,
which provides as follows.2
§ 5421. Initial child custody jurisdiction.
(a) General rule. --Except as otherwise provided in
section 5424 (relating to temporary emergency
____________________________________________
2
In this case, the family court treated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a
state of the United States pursuant to the following provision.
§ 5405. International application of chapter.
(a) Foreign country treated as state. --A court of
this Commonwealth shall treat a foreign country as if
it were a state of the United States for the purpose
of applying Subchapter B (relating to jurisdiction)
and this subchapter.
(b) Foreign custody determinations. --Except as
otherwise provided in subsection (c), a child custody
determination made in a foreign country under
factual circumstances in substantial conformity with
the jurisdictional standards of this chapter must be
recognized and enforced under Subchapter C
(relating to enforcement).
(c) Violation of human rights. --A court of this
Commonwealth need not apply this chapter if the
child custody law of a foreign country violates
fundamental principles of human rights.
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5405.
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jurisdiction), a court of this Commonwealth has
jurisdiction to make an initial child custody
determination only if:
(1) this Commonwealth 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 six months before the
commencement of the proceeding and the
child is absent from this Commonwealth but a
parent or person acting as a parent continues
to live in this Commonwealth;
(2) a court of another state does not have
jurisdiction under paragraph (1) or a court of
the home state of the child has declined to
exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this
Commonwealth is the more appropriate forum
under section 5427 (relating to inconvenient
forum) or 5428 (relating to jurisdiction
declined by reason of conduct) 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
Commonwealth other than mere physical
presence; and
(ii) substantial evidence is available in
this Commonwealth concerning the
child’s care, protection, training and
personal relationships;
(3) all courts having jurisdiction under
paragraph (1) or (2) have declined to exercise
jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this
Commonwealth is the more appropriate forum
to determine the custody of the child under
section 5427 or 5428; or
(4) no court of any other state would have
jurisdiction under the criteria specified in
paragraph (1), (2) or (3).
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23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5421(a). The UCCJEA defines “home state” as “[t]he state in
which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as a parent for at least
six consecutive months immediately before the commencement of a child
custody proceeding…. A period of temporary absence of any of the
mentioned persons is part of the period.” 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5402.
The family court found that, at the time Mother filed her second
custody complaint, the parties’ daughters had been living with Mother in
Allegheny County for more than six months. Therefore, pursuant to Section
5421(a)(1), the family court concluded that it had “‘home state’ jurisdiction
to make the initial child custody determination.” Family Court Opinion,
10/23/14, at 8.
In his first and second issues on appeal, Father argues Pennsylvania is
not the “home state” because the parties intended that their daughters’ stay
in Pennsylvania would be temporary, lasting only for the summer of 2013.
Father’s Brief at 10. As such, Father implies that Saudi Arabia is the “home
state” of the parties’ daughters, and that their “period of temporary
absence” should be “treated as if [they] never left” Saudi Arabia pursuant to
Section 5402. Id. at 8.
Upon careful review, we discern no abuse of discretion by the family
court. We adopt the family court’s cogent opinion as dispositive of Father’s
first and second issues on appeal. See Family Court Opinion, 10/23/14, at
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5-8 (finding that, “by at least August 18, 2014, when the parties’ son
returned to Saudi Arabia without the parties’ daughters, Father became
aware that the daughters would not be returning to Saudi Arabia and that
Mother intended the daughters to reside permanently with her in
Pennsylvania. Consequently, when Father initially became aware of Mother’s
intent to keep the daughters here in Pennsylvania, the absence from Saudi
Arabia was no longer considered ‘temporary.’” Id. at 8, citing M.E.V. v.
R.D.V., 57 A.3d 126, 133 (Pa. Super. 2012)).3, 4
In his third issue, Father argues that Mother engaged in unjustifiable
conduct when she retained the parties’ daughters in the United States.
____________________________________________
3
The family court concluded that, “in order to preserve the ‘home state’
status in Saudi Arabia, Father should have initiated simultaneous custody
proceedings in Saudi Arabia within six months of learning that his daughters
were not returning. Nothing prevented him from doing so.” Family Court
Opinion, 10/23/14, at 15 n.8.
4
In the argument section of his brief, Father asserts that the family court
erred in failing to dismiss Mother’s second custody complaint because she
filed it “within two month[s] of the initial determination [declining to exercise
jurisdiction over Mother’s first custody complaint] and the children’s stay
was extended because of the lengthy time it took to schedule the initial
jurisdiction hearing.” Father’s Brief at 12. We observe that Father did not
assert this error in his concise statement of errors complained of on appeal.
In addition, Father did not raise this issue in the Statement of Questions
Involved in his brief. Therefore, we conclude that Father’s claim is waived.
See Dietrich v. Dietrich, 923 A.2d 461, 463 (Pa. Super. 2007) (stating
that when an appellant filed a Rule 1925(b) statement, any issues not raised
in that statement are waived on appeal); accord Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b)(4)(vii).
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Father’s Brief at 12. Father asserts the family court should have declined
jurisdiction pursuant to Section 5428(a), which provides as follows.
§ 5428. Jurisdiction declined by reason of
conduct.
(a) General rule. --Except as otherwise provided in
section 5424 (relating to temporary emergency
jurisdiction) or by other laws of this Commonwealth,
if a court of this Commonwealth has jurisdiction
under this chapter because a person seeking to
invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable
conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its
jurisdiction unless:
(1) the parents and all persons acting as
parents have acquiesced in the exercise of
jurisdiction;
(2) a court of the state otherwise having
jurisdiction under sections 5421 (relating to
initial child custody jurisdiction) through 5423
(relating to jurisdiction to modify
determination) determines that this
Commonwealth is a more appropriate forum
under section 5427 (relating to inconvenient
forum); or
(3) no court of any other state would have
jurisdiction under the criteria specified in
sections 5421 through 5423.
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5428(a).
Based upon our careful review, we conclude that the family court has
ably addressed Father’s third issue. Therefore, we likewise adopt the family
court’s well-reasoned opinion as dispositive of Father’s arguments related to
this issue. See Family Court Opinion, 10/23/14, at 8-13 (finding: (1) “when
Mother chose to keep the parties’ daughters in Allegheny County in August
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of 2013 instead of sending them back to Saudi Arabia with the parties’ son,
her conduct was justified”; (2) “Assuming arguendo that Mother’s conduct in
retaining the parties’ daughters in Pennsylvania is considered unjustified,
this Court still declines to apply the general rule stated in Section 5428(a),
because of the exceptions contained in 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5428(a)(1) and (3)”).
In his fourth issue, Father argues that the family court erred in
exercising jurisdiction over Mother’s second custody complaint filed on May
23, 2014, when Father’s custody action in Saudi Arabia, filed on April 17,
2014, was pending, of which Mother was served with notice on May 20,
2014. The following provision of the UCCJEA is applicable.
§ 5426. Simultaneous proceedings.
(a) General rule. --Except as otherwise provided in
section 5424 (relating to temporary emergency
jurisdiction), a court of this Commonwealth may not
exercise its jurisdiction under this subchapter if, at
the time of the commencement of the proceeding, a
proceeding concerning the custody of the child has
been commenced in a court of another state
having jurisdiction substantially in conformity
with this chapter unless the proceeding has been
terminated or is stayed by the court of the other
state because a court of this Commonwealth is a
more convenient forum under section 5427 (relating
to inconvenient forum).
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5426(a) (emphasis added).
Upon review, we discern no abuse of discretion by the family court.
We adopt the family court’s cogent opinion as also dispositive of Father’s
fourth issue on appeal. See Family Court Opinion, 10/23/14, at 13 (finding
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that “Saudi Arabia no longer had jurisdiction under the UCCJEA at the time
Father initiated proceedings there on April 17, 2014. Therefore, because a
child custody proceeding had not been commenced in another state ‘having
jurisdiction substantially in conformity with (the UCCJEA,)’ this Court finds
that … Section 5426[(a)] does not apply”).
In his fifth and final issue, Father argues that the family court erred in
failing to register the custody order issued in Saudi Arabia on July 17, 2014,
granting Father sole custody of the parties’ daughters. The following
provision of the UCCJEA is applicable.
§ 5445. Registration of child custody
determination.
…
(d) Contest over validity of registered order. --A
person seeking to contest the validity of a registered
order must request a hearing within 20 days after
service of the notice. At that hearing, the court shall
confirm the registered order unless the person
contesting registration establishes that:
(1) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction
under Subchapter B (relating to jurisdiction);
(2) the child custody determination sought to
be registered has been vacated, stayed or
modified by a court having jurisdiction to do so
under Subchapter B; or
(3) the person contesting registration was
entitled to notice, but notice was not given in
accordance with the standards of section 5408
(relating to notice to persons outside
Commonwealth), in the proceedings before the
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court that issued the order for which
registration is sought.
23 Pa.C.S.A. § 5445(d).
The family court concluded that, “the Saudi Order is not entitled to
registration because Saudi Arabia did not have jurisdiction to enter the initial
child custody determination when Father initiated proceedings there on April
17, 2014.” Family Court Opinion, 10/23/14, at 16. Father contends on
appeal that he waited to initiate a custody action in Saudi Arabia until the
conclusion of the family court’s decision regarding jurisdiction over Mother’s
first custody complaint so as “to avoid simultaneous proceedings.” Father’s
Brief at 17. Further, Father argues there was “[a] breakdown in the court
system [that] caused [the] jurisdiction hearing to be delayed five months
from the date it was requested.” Id. He asserts that, “[h]ad the court
scheduled the jurisdiction hearing in a timely manner,” he would have filed
the custody action in Saudi Arabia sooner. Id.
We discern no abuse of discretion by the court in declining to register
the custody order issued in Saudi Arabia pursuant to Section 5445(d)(1).
The family court recognized that “there was a lengthy delay in deciding
whether it had jurisdiction over Mother’s [f]irst [c]omplaint.” Family Court
Opinion, 10/23/14, at 15, n. 8. Nevertheless, we conclude the family court
properly determined that, Father “should have initiated simultaneous
custody proceedings in Saudi Arabia within six months of learning that his
daughters were not returning. Nothing prevented him from doing so.” Id.
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Based on the foregoing, we conclude that all of Father’s issues on
appeal are devoid of merit. Accordingly, the family court’s October 23, 2014
order is affirmed.
Order affirmed.5
Judgment Entered.
Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary
Date: 8/28/2015
____________________________________________
5
In the alternative, the family court declined to register the July 17, 2014
custody order issued in Saudi Arabia under principles of comity, finding that
the order violated the public policy of Pennsylvania. Because we conclude
that the family court did not abuse its discretion in declining to register the
foreign custody order pursuant to Section 5445(d)(1), we need not decide
whether the Saudi court’s order is contrary to public policy.
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..
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
FAMILY DIVISION
No.: FD 09-007348-009
Plaintiff,
v.
PA A
Defendant.
MEMORANDUM
BICKET, J. October 22, 2014
On May 23, 2014, Plaintiff filed a complaint for custody in Allegheny
County. On May 27, 2014, a Rule to Show Cause was issued upon Plaintiff to
show why her complaint should not be dismissedfor lack of jurisdiction. On July
25, 2014, Defendant filed a request to have a foreign custody order registered In
Allegheny County. Argument on the return of the rule was held on August 5,
2014. Plaintiff filed an objection the registration of the foreign custody order on
August 11, 2014. Following briefing and a hearing on October 9, 2014, for the
reasons set forth below, this Court finds that Plaintiff's complaint tor custody
should not be dismissed; that this Court has jurisdiction over the within matter;
and that the foreign custody order should not be registered in Pennsylvania.
BACKGROUND
Plaintiff, (hereinafter, "Mother"), and Defendant FAA
(hereinafter, "Father"), formerly husband and wife, are the
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,.
parents of three children. M.~. . (Age 18; D/0/B: 10/15/1996), A{A I (Age
14; D/0/B: 01/09/2000), one MA , (Age 13; D/0/B: 09/19/2001). Mother is a
citizen of the United States and Father is a citizen of Saudi Arabia. Mother met
Father in Allegheny County when she was 15 years old. The parties married in
Allegheny County In 1994 when Mother was 18 years old. At the end of 1994,
the parties moved to Saudi Arabia. Thereafter, the parties' three children were
born. All three children are dual citizens of the United States and Saudi Arabia.
At some point in the parties' relationship. Mother converted to Islam and all
three children were raised in the Islamic faith in Saudi Arabia. In 2008, Mother
moved back to Allegheny County and filed for divorce In Allegheny County in
2009. However, before a divorce decree was entered, she moved back to
Saudi Arabia and continued her marriage to Father until October. 2012, at
which point Mother and Father finally divorced. Immediately following the
divorce, Mother belleved she was required to leave Saudi Arabia because she
was no longer sponsored by Father to remain legally in the country. She
returned alone to Allegheny County on October 5, 2012. At that time, due to
"guardianship" laws in Saudi Arabia, Mother was unable to return to Allegheny
County with the children without Father's permission.
In June of 2013, Father permitted the children to visit Mother in Allegheny
County. Initially, the parties' Intent was for the children to visit Mother during the
summer months and to return to Saudi Arabia to attend school in the fall. At
some point in August of 2013, the parties' daughters allegedly informed Mother
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of their desire to remain with her in the United States. On August 7, 2013, Mother,
pro se, presented a Complaint for Confirmation of Custody/Complaint for
Custody in Allegheny County, requesting custody of all three children
(hereinafter, the "First Complaint"). Upon Father falling to appear, this Court
Issued an Order dated August 7, 2013, confirming Mother's primary custody of
the three children. On August 18, 2013, the parties' son returned to Saudi
Arabia. The parties' two daughters, however, remained with Mother and
Mother enrolled them in school in the Mount Lebanon School District In
Allegheny County for the 20l 3 school year.
On October 9, 2013, Father, appearing specially to challenge the
jurisdiction of this Court, presented an emergency motion to vacate the August
7, 2013 Confirmation of Custody Order. Father argued that he did not receive
timely notice of Mother's First Complaint and that this Court lacked jurisdiction to
enter the Order under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement
Act (hereinafter. the "UCCJEA"). In turn, Mother, now represented by counsel,
argued that Saudi Arabia should not be treated as a state pursuant to the
"human rights exception" contained in the UCCJEA. (See 23 Pa. C.S.A. §
5405(c)). This Court directed each party to brief the "human rights exception"
and took Father's emergency motion under advisement.
On November 7, 2013, in response to Father's emergency motion, this
Court entered an Order which vacated the August 7, 2013 Order and assumed
interim emergency jurisdiction based on the allegations in Mother's First
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Complaint pending a full hearing on jurisdiction. Said hearing took place on
March 26, 2014. Following the hearing, on April 4, 2014, this Court entered an
Order finding that it lacked jurisdiction over Mother's First Complaint.1 Since April
4, 2014, the parties' daughters have remained with Mother in Allegheny County
and have attended school, doctors' appointments, and other activities here.
On April 17, 2014, Father Initiated custody proceedings in Saudi Arabia.
Mother was served with notice of the Saudi Arabian proceedings on May 20,
2014. On May 23, 2014, represented by new counsel, Mother filed another
Complaint for Custody of the parties' two daughters In Allegheny County
(hereinafter, the "Second Complaint"). On May 25, 2014, this Court Issued a
Rule to Show Cause upon Mother to show why her Second Complaint should
not be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. After each party briefed this Court on
the relevant issues, oral argument was held on the record on August 5, 2014. In
the meantime, an ex parte proceeding on Father's custody complaint in Saudi
1. Because it was clear that Pennsylvanlo did not have "hcrne state" Jurisdiction at the
time Mother filed her First Complaint (as the parties' daughters had not lived In Pennsylvania for
six months prior to the time she flied it), the Morch 26, 2014 hearing was held solely to address
whether 23 Po. C.S.A. § 5405(0), which states that foreign countries shall be treated as states of
the United States, should not apply due to the allegations that Saudi Arabia custody law violates
fundamental human rights pursuant to 23 Po. C.S.A. § 5405(c), and/or whether this Court should
continue Its temporary emergency jurisdiction pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5424. Mother failed to
present sufficient evidence showing that Saudi Arabian custody low violates fundamental
human rights or that the parties' daughters were threatened with mistreatment or abuse in Saudi
Arabia; therefore. this Court entered the April 4, 2014 Order finding It lacked Jurisdiction over
Mother's First Complaint. Nelthe[ party appealed.
4
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Arabia occurred on June 29, 2014.2 On July 17, 2014, a Saudl Arabian court
issued a custody order that granted Father sole custody of the parties' children.
On July 25, 2014, Father filed a request to have the Saudi custody order
registered in Allegheny County. On August 11, 2014, pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. §
5445(d), Mother filed an objection to the registration and enforcement of the
Saudi Arabian order. A hearing on both the Jurisdictional and registration Issues
occurred on October 9, 2014.3
DISCUSSION
I. JURISDICTION TO MAKE AN INITIAL CUSTODY DETERMINATION
Whether a court of this Commonwealth has jurisdiction to adjudicate
Mother's Second Complaint is governed by the Uniform Child Custody
Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, set forth at 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5401 et. seq.
Courts of this Commonwealth have Jurisdiction to make an Initial custody
determination only if:
2. This Court finds Mother was given adequate notice of the Saudi Arabian custody
proceedings. but tolled to appear. Mother testified that she did not attend the Saudi proceedings
because she was afraid to go bock, she did not think it was safe to return and thought she would be
arrested. and she did not know how. or if, she could obtain a visa (even though she never contacted
the U.S. or Saudi embassy to Inquire). This Court finds Mother was reasonable and credible In her
beliefs.
J. For reasons of judicial economy, this Court Incorporated the relevant testimony and
exhibits presented at the Morch 26, 2014 hearing Into the current proceedings and permitted each
party to supplement same. Neither party objected to the incorporation of the Morch 261h hearing
Into the current proceedings. See Jones v. Jones. 2005 Po. Super. 337. 884 A.2d 916-17 (Po. Super.
2005) (finding that incorporating testimony from a prior custody hearing between the parties was "on
Intelligent and efficient way to proceed, particularly when the same trlal Judge presided over the
prior hearings"). The facts set forth within this Memorandum are from the testimony and relevant
exhibits presented at both the March 26. 2014 hearing and the October 9. 2014 hearing. as well the
Joint stipulations of facts the parties' counsel orally read Into the record at the October 9th hearing.
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'.
(l) this Commonwealth 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 six months before the commencement of the
proceeding and the child is absent from this Commonwealth but a
parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this
Commonwealth;
(2) a court of another state does not have jurisdiction under
paragraph (l) or a court of the home state of the child has
declined to exercise Jurisdiction on the ground that this
Commonwealth is the more appropriate forum under section 5427
(relating to inconvenient forum) or 5428 (relating to jurisdiction
declined by reason of conduct) 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
Commonwealth other than mere physical
presence; and
(ii) substantial evidence Is available In this
Commonwealth concerning the child's care,
protection. training and personal relationships;
(3) all courts having Jurisdictionunder paragraph Cl) or (2) have
declined to exercise Jurisdictionon the ground that a court of this
Commonwealth is the more appropriate tarum to determine the
custody of the child under section 5427 or 5428; or
(4) no court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the
criteria specified in paragraph (1 ), (2) or (3).
23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5421 (a). "Horne state" is defined as:
The state In which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as
a parent for at least six consecutive months Immediately before the
commencement of a child custody proceeding. In the case of a
child six months of age or younger, the term means the state in
which the child lived from birth with any of the personsmentioned.
A period of temporary absence of any of the mentioned personsis
part of the period.
23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5402. A foreign country is treated as if it is a state of the United
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States for the purposes of applying the provisions of the UCCJEA, unless the
custody law of the foreign country violates fundamental human rights. 23 Pa.
C.S.A. § 5405.
In the matter sub iualce. the parties' daughters have clearly "lived" with
Mother in Pennsylvania since June of 2013.4 Thus, under the clear and
unambiguous definition of "home state" contained In Section 23 Pa. C.S.A. §
5402, at the time Mother commenced the instant child custody proceeding by
filing her Second Complaint on May 23, 2014, Pennsylvania was the two
daughters' "home state," unless their absence from Saudi Arabia Is considered
temporary.
A. Temporary Absence
Father argues that the daughters' absence from Saudi Arabia should be
considered "temporary" and therefore, not Included In the calculation of time
they lived with Mother in Pennsylvania, but instead Included in the period of
time the children have lived in Saudi Arabia. See Defendant's Reply Brief In
Response to Rule to Show Cause (hereinafter "Father's Brief"), at pp. 4-5.
Father's analysis Is partly correct. When the children initially came to visit Mother
In Allegheny County in June of 2013, the Court finds that the visit was intended
to be temporary. However, by at least August 18, 2013, when the parties' son
4. The word "llve" is synonymous with the word "reside." R.M. v. J.S., 20 A.3d 496, 505 (Pa.
Super. 2011). "The classic legal definition of the term 'residence' in this Commonwealth Is 'livfng In a
particular place. requiring only physical presence." Wagner v. Wagner, 887 A.2d 282. 286 (Pa. Super.
2005) (citing Norman v. Pennsy/vanra Nar; Ins. Co., 684 A.2d 189, 191 (Pa. Super. 1996)). Uttllzfng this
definition. the daughters hove clearly "llved· with Mother In Pennsylvania since June, 2013.
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returned to Saudi Arabia without the parties' daughters, Father became aware
that the daughters would not be returning to Saudi Arabia and that Mother
intended the daughters to reside permanently with her in Pennsylvania ..
Consequently, when Father initially became aware of Mother's intent to keep
the daughters here in Pennsylvania, their absence from Saudi Arabia was no
longer considered "temporary." See M.E. V. v. R.D. V., 57 A.3d 126, 133 (Pa.
Super. 2012)(suggestlng In dicta that a child's absence from his or her home
state will no longer be considered temporary once the stay-at-home parent
becomes aware of the other parent's Intent). Additionally, Mother enrolled the
daughters In school in Allegheny County in August of 2013, further indicating her
intent for the children to permanently reside with her. At the time, there was no
custody order in place and the parties merely disagreed as to where their
daughters would live.
Because the parties' daughters had "lived" in Pennsylvania for over six
months preceding the date Mother filed her Second Complaint (I.e. August 18,
2013 to May 23, 2014), pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5421 (a). this Court has "home
state" jurisdiction to make the initial chlld custody determination.
B. Unjustifiable Conduct
Father further argues that this Court should decline Jurisdiction because
Mother has engaged in "unjustifiable conduct." See Father's Brief. at pp. 6-7.
Section 5428(0) of the UCCJEA states:
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(l)f a court of this Commonwealth has jurisdiction under this chapter
because a person seeking to invoke Its jurisdiction has engaged in
unjustiflable conduct the court shall decline to exercise its
jurisdiction unless:
(1) the parents and all persons acting as parents have
acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;
(2) a court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction
under sections 5421 (relating to initial child custody
jurisdiction) through 5423 (relating to jurisdiction to
modify determination) determines that this
Commonwealth Is a more appropriate forum under
section 5427 (relating to inconvenient forum); or
(3) no court of any other state would have jurisdiction
under the criteria specified In sections 5421 through
5423.
23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5428(0). Before considering whether any of the three exceptions
contained in Section 5428(0) apply, this Court must first consider whether Mother
has engaged in unjustifiable conduct. "Justifiable" is defined as "(c)apable of
being legally or morally Justified; excusable; defensible." BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY
(9th ed. 2009). This Court finds that when Mother chose to keep the parties'
daughters in Allegheny County In August of 2013 instead of sending them back
to Saudi Arabia with the parties' son, her conduct was justified.
First, Mother testified that she believed, mistakenly or not that she was
required to leave Saudi Arabia immediately following the parties' divorce in
October of 2012. When Mother left Saudi Arabia. the children were required to
stay with Father in Saudi Arabia due to Saudi "guardianship" laws, unless Father
gave his permission for them to leave. Effectively, Father was awarded de facto
custody of the children following the parties' divorce. Additionally, while it is true
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.
that Father permitted the children to visit Mother in June of 2013 with the
expectation that they return to Saudi Arabia in the fall, when it came time for
the children to return to Saudi Arabia, the parties' daughters, whom this Court
finds to be mature and intelligent, desired to stay with Mother. Mother wanted
to respect her daughters' wishes and she did not want them to return to Saudi
Arabia. She believed her daughters would live a better life in America. At the
time, there was no custody order in place; the parties merely disagreed as to
where the children would reside. Finally, Mother believed that If she sent the
parties' daughters back to Saudi Arabia, she would have no chance to obtain
custody under Saudi Arabian law and possibly would never see her children
again.s
In sum, Mother's conduct in keeping the parties' daughters in
Pennsylvania was based partly on her beliefs regarding the laws of Saudi Arabia
and partly on her daughters' strong desire to remain In Pennsylvania. Her
conduct was neither illegal nor in violation of any court order. For these reasons,
this Court finds that Mother's conduct was justlfled.6
5. Considering the language contained In the July 17, 2014 Saudi Arabian Order of Court,
Mother's beliefs regarding her chance to obtain custody In a Saudi court system appear to at least
be reasonable, If not validated.
6. In McCoy v. Thresh. 862 A.2d 109. 115 (Po. Super. 2004). the trial court determined that a
father's conduct In retaining the children In Pennsylvania Instead of returning them to Californfa when
summer was over. in contravention of the parents' agreement. was unjustifiable. However. the
Superior Court affirmed the trial court's opinion on different grounds. Id. ("We agree with the trial
court that Pennsylvania does not have jurisdiction under either the "home store" or the "significant
contacts" provision of the UCCJA..). The Superior Court never reached whether the trial court's
determination regarding the father's unjustifiable conduct was correct. The trial court's finding that
the father's conduct in McCoy was unjustiflable Is not binding on this Court. especially considering the
specific and unique circumstances of this case.
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Assuming arguendo that Mother's conduct in retaining the parties'
daughters in Pennsylvania is considered unjustified, this Court still declines to
apply the general rule stated in Section 5428(0), because of the exceptions
contained in 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5428(a)(l) and (3). The Uniform Law Comment to
Section 5428 explains that the reasoning behind Section 5428(a) (i.e. a concern
that one parent will take a child to another jurisdiction in an attempt to find a
more favorable forum) has become diminished due to the enactment of the
UCCJEA:
The "Clean Hands" section of the UCCJEA has been truncated in
this Act. Since there is no longer a multiplicity of jurisdictions which
could take cognizance of a child-custody proceeding, there Is less
of a concern that one parent will take the child to another
Jurisdiction In an attempt to find a more favorable forum. Most of
the jurisdictional problems generated by abducting parents should
be solved by the prioritization of home state in section 20l (section
5421 ); the exclusive, continuing Jurisdiction provisions of section 202
(section 5422); and the ban on modification in section 203 (section
5423). For example, If a parent takes the ch/Id from the home state
and seeks an originalcustodydetermination elsewhere, the stay-at-
home parent has six months to file a custodypetition under the
extended home stale jurisdictionalprovision of section 201 (section
5421), which will ensure that the case is retained in the home slate.
(.' ,)
Nonetheless, there are still a number of cases where parents, or their
surrogates, act in a reprehensible manner, such as removing,
secreting, retaining, or restraining the child. This section ensures that
abducting parents will not receive an advantage for their
unjustifiable conduct. If the conduct that creates the jurisdiction is
unjustified, courts must decline to exercise jurisdiction that is
inappropriately invoked by one of the parties. For example, if one
parent abducts the child pre-decree and establishes a new home
state. that jurisdiction will decline to hear the case. There are
exceptions. If the other party has acquiesced In the court's
jurisdiction, the court may hear the case. Such acquiescence may
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occur by ( ... ) not filing in the court that would otherwise have
jurisdiction under this Act.
Id. (Uniform Law Comment)(emphasis added).
Here, if Father believed that Mother's conduct in retaining their daughters
in Pennsylvania was unjustified, the Unifarm Law Comment suggests that his
remedy was to Initiate simultaneous child custody proceedings In Saudi Arabia
within six months of learning of Mother's unjustified conduct. See e.g. M.E. V. v.
R.D. V., 57 A.3d 126, 128 (Pa. Super. 2012) (when mother Informed father that the
children would not be returning to their "home state" of New Jersey, father
initiated proceedings In New Jersey within six months, thus preserving "home
state" jurisdiction In New Jersey). Mother's conduct allegedly became
"unjustifiable" on August 18. 2013, when she failed to return the parties'
daughters to Saudi Arabia. However, Father waited approximately eight
months to initiate child custody proceedings in Saudi Arabia. When Father
finally did initiate child custody proceedings in Saudi Arabia on April 17, 2014,
Saudi Arabia no longer had "home state" jurisdiction; Pennsylvanla did. As such,
this Court finds that, even if it considers Mother's conduct unjustified, the
exceptions contained in Section 5428(a)(l) and (3) apply. Therefore, this Court
will exercise jurisdiction over Mother's Second Complaint. See also AI-Raddahi v.
AI-Raddahi, 2006 WL 5483095 (Columbia Cnty. Ct. Cmmn. Pis., May 17, 2006)
("When (mother) did not return on the plane as planned, (father) knew or should
have known that (mother) was not going to return to Saudi Arabia In August
2005. He did nothing to address his custody concerns for over six months. He
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knowingly allowed (mother) and the minor child to establish residency in
Pennsylvania,their home state. Only after they had done so did he take action.
He cannot now complain.")
C. Simultaneous Proceedings
Father also argues that because a custody proceeding had already
commenced In Saudi Arabia (on April 17, 2014) and a determination had
already been made In Saudi Arabia (on July 17, 2014), under 23 Pa. C.S.A. §
5426, a Court of this Commonwealth may not exercisejurisdictionover Mother's
Second Complaint (filed May 23, 2014). See Father's Brief, at pp. 5-6. Section
5426(0)states:
(A) court of this Commonwealth may not exercise its jurisdiction
under this subchapter if. at the time of the commencement of the
proceeding, a proceeding concerning the custody of the child has
been commenced in a court of another state having Jurisdiction
substantially in conformity with this chapter unless the proceeding
has been terminated or is stayed by the court of the other state
because a court of this Commonwealth Is a more convenient forum
under section 5427 (relating to Inconvenient forum).
23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5426(0) (emphasisadded). As explained above, Saudi Arabia
no longer had jurisdiction under the UCCJEA at the time Father Initiated
proceedings there on April 17, 2014. Therefore, because a child custody
proceeding had not been commenced in another state "having jurisdiction
substantially in conformity with (the UCCJEA,)"this Court finds that Subsection
(a) of Section 5426does not apply.
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D. This Court's Prior Decision regarding Jurisdiction
Father's final argument is that because this Court hod already made an
"initial custody determination" on April 4, 2014 by finding that it lacked
Jurisdiction to address Mother's First Complaint, this Court continues to lack
Jurisdiction with respect to Mother's Second Complaint. See Father's Brief, at p.
3 (citing 23 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 5406, 5421). This argument ls flawed because the
Jurisdictional determination with respect to Mother's First Complaint was not an
"initial child custody determination" as Father suggests In his Brief. Tt)e UCCJEA
defines a "child custody determination" as:
A judgment, decree or other order of a court providing for legal
custody, physical custody or visitation with respect to a child. The
term includes a permanent, temporary, Initial and modification
order. The term does not include an order relating to child support
or other monetary obligation of an individual.
23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5402. An "initial determination" ls defined as "(t)he first chlld
custody determination concerning a particular child." Id. As these sections
make clear, a determination with respect to jurisdiction Is not on "Initial child
custody determination."? As such, this Court finds that Sections 5406 and 5421,
7. Even if the April 4, 2014 Jurisdictional determination with respect to Mother's First
Complaint is considered a "chlld custody determination." under Father's reasoning.
Pennsylvania courts would never be able to exercise Jurisdiction. even If Father never Initiated
custody proceedings or waited several years to Initiate child custody proceedings in Saudi
Arabia following entry of the April 4. 2014 Order. Clearly. this result would be Inconsistent with the
goals of the UCCJEA and the Legislature's definition of "home stote."
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read together, do not prevent this Court from finding that it has jurisdlctlon over
Mother's Second Complaint.a
II. REGISTRATION OF THE SAUDI ARABIA CUSTODY ORDER
On July 25, 2014, pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5445(0), Father filed a request
to have the July 17, 2014 Saudi Arabia Custody Order of Court, which gave
Father sole custody of the parties' daughters, registered In Allegheny County.
On August 11, 2014, pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5445(d), Mother filed an
objection to said registration, arguing that the Saudi Order should not be
registered because 1) Saudi Arabia did not have jurisdiction under the UCCJEA
to enter sold Order, and/or 2) the Order violates Pennsylvania public policy. See
Plaintiff's Responseto Defendant's Reply to Rule to Show Cause Brief, at pp. 16-
18. Under Section 5445(d), a Court shall decline to register a foreign custody
order if the person contesting registration establishesthat:
(1) the issuing court did not have jurisdiction under Subchapter B
(relating to jurisdiction);
(2) the child custody determination sought to be registered hos
been vacated, stayed or modified by a court having jurisdiction to
do so under Subchapter B; or
8. In further support of Father's argument tho! the Jurlsdlctlonol determination regarding
Mother's First Complaint was binding on her Second Complaint. Father argues that "l(t) parties
were permitted to continue to repeatedly request a determlnotlon of Initial custody jurisdiction It
would encourage parents to hold children In a Jurisdiction in order to forum shop ( . . ) Father
should not be punished by losing custody jurisdiction based on the length of the Court process."
Father's Brief. at p. 3. This Court realizes that there was a lengthy delay In deciding whether It
hod Jurisdiction over Mother's First Complaint. Nevertheless, Father's argument Is without merit,
because, as stated above. in order to preserve "home state" status In Saudi Arabia, Father
should have Initiated simultaneous custody proceedings In Saudi Arabia within six months of
learning that his daughters were not returning. Nothing prevented him from doing so.
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(3) the person contesting registration was entitled to notice, but
notice was not given in accordance with the standards of section
5408 (relating to notice to persons outside Commonwealth), In the
proceedings before the court that Issued the order for which
registration is sought.
23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5445(d). Here, the Saudi Order is not entitled to registration
because Saudi Arabia did not have Jurisdictionto enter the initial chlld custody
determination when Father initiated proceedings there on April 17, 2014.
Assuming arguendo that Saudi Arabia did have jurisdiction to make the
initial child custody determination, this Court still declines entry of the Order in
Allegheny County under principles of comity, as said Order violates Pennsylvania
public policy. A cursory review of the Saudi Order (attached hereto as Exhibit
"A") reflects that the basis for awarding sole custody to Father is Inconsistent
with Pennsylvania public pollcv.? In pertinent part, the Saudi Order reads as
follows:
First, (t)he non-Muslim shall not have right of custody of a Muslim,the
scholars emphatically supported this, lbn Al Qayem stated In Zad
(5/410) 'The custodian's care ls that a child be grown up and
educated on his religion of Islam, and after maturity is so difficult for
him/her to leave It.'
9. The parties intended to call experts to testify regarding this issue. At the conclusion of
the October 9, 2014 hearing, the parties agreed that the Court would first decide the
Jurisdictional Issue and, if necessary, a second date would be scheduled for the parties to call
experts to testify regarding the pubUc policy issue. The Court finds that due to Its Jurisdictional
flndlng stated herein. and Its reasonsfor declining entry of the Saudi Order. no expert testimony Is
necessary on this Issue.
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Second, (t)he Companions view that the custody of each girl who
attains the seventh year of age is with her father, Al lnsaf stated
(24/ 490): 'if a girl completes the seventh year of age she should stay
with her father.' Al Bahouti stated in Al Kashaf (5/502): 'the custody
of a girl who attains the seventh year or more of age Is with her
father till puberty.'
Third, (o)n the Sharlah basis if either parent desires to live in a
remote country, priority for ch/Id custody shall go to the father,
whether the traveler Is the father or mother, as stated by Al Merdawl
In Al lnsaf (24/480).
Fourth, (t)he female after attaining seventh year of age shall have
no choice and she should stay with her father ti/I marriage,
providing the custody aim Is to protect her, and the father Is often
more careful In protecting his daughter which Is why she is engaged
through him. Therefore she should remain under his care for her
own safety to guard her against any immoral acts.
Fifth, In custody, the benefit of the person under custody has priority
for issuing ruling in custody disputes. The two girls were born in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and it Is priority for them to stay in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia rather than any other country, in particular
their brother Mohammad Is living with their father, the plaintiff for
the whole family to live under the same roof.
On all the above mentioned, I have issued the ruling that the
custody of the two girls May & Maria shall be with the plaintiff.
See Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ministry of Justice, Order of Court dated July 17,
2014, at pp. 5-6 (emphasis added) (errors In original). These provisions,which
appear to be the basis for the Saudi Court's award of sole custody to Father
("On all of the above mentioned ... "), clearly do not reflect public policy in
Pennsylvania. Therefore, even if Saudi Arabia did have jurisdiction In this custody
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matter. this Court declines to register the July 17. 2014 Order of Court under
principles of comnv.»
Ill. CONCLUSION
For the reasons set forth above. this Court finds that It has Jurisdiction over
Mother's Second Complaint for Custody pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5421 (a) and
declines registration of the Saudi Arabia Custody Order of Court dated July 17,
2014 pursuant to 23 Pa. C.S.A. § 5445(d)(l) and under princlples of comity.
Accordingly, this Court enters the following Order:
lO. Some of our sister states have declined to defer to certain countries and/or register
custody orders similar to the Saudi Arabia Order sub Judice under prlnciples of comuv, See e.g.,
All v. Ali. 652 A.2d 253. 260 (N.J. Super.. 1994) (refusing lo recoonbe and enforce a Gazo Court
custody decree based in Islamic/Sharia law); Tatoragosl 11. rotaragosl. 477 S.E,2d 239. 246 (N.C.
App .. 1996)(findlng Turkish/Islamic law not In conformity wlfh Nortt1 Carollno low rn custody
proceeding); Amin v. Bakhaty. 812 So. 2d 12. 23 (Lo. App. I Cir .• 200l)(decllnlng to e>937 N.E.2d
490. 497-99 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010)(chlld custody deterrnlnotlon by 1he Lebanese Joaforlte Court
was not decided under law In substantial conformity with Massachusetts low governing child
custody cases. and thus was not entitled to comity).
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