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Florida Statute 61.521 - Full Text and Legal Analysis
Florida Statute 61.521 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Link to State of Florida Official Statute
F.S. 61.521 Case Law from Google Scholar Google Search for Amendments to 61.521

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title VI
CIVIL PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Chapter 61
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE; SUPPORT; TIME-SHARING
View Entire Chapter
61.521 Jurisdiction declined by reason of conduct.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in s. 61.517 or by other law of this state, if a court of this state has jurisdiction under this part because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction unless:
(a) The parents and all persons acting as parents have acquiesced in the exercise of jurisdiction;
(b) A court of the state otherwise having jurisdiction under ss. 61.514-61.516 determines that this state is a more appropriate forum under s. 61.520; or
(c) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in ss. 61.514-61.516.
(2) If a court of this state declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection (1), it may fashion an appropriate remedy to ensure the safety of the child and prevent a repetition of the unjustifiable conduct, including staying the proceeding until a child custody proceeding is commenced in a court having jurisdiction under ss. 61.514-61.516.
(3) If a court dismisses a petition or stays a proceeding because it declines to exercise its jurisdiction under subsection (1), it shall assess against the party seeking to invoke its jurisdiction necessary and reasonable expenses, including costs, communication expenses, attorney’s fees, investigative fees, expenses for witnesses, travel expenses, and expenses for child care during the course of the proceedings, unless the party from whom fees are sought establishes that the assessment would be clearly inappropriate. The court may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against this state unless authorized by law other than this part.
History.s. 5, ch. 2002-65.

F.S. 61.521 on Google Scholar

F.S. 61.521 on CourtListener

Amendments to 61.521


Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 61.521

Total Results: 4  |  Sort by: Relevance  |  Newest First

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Sarpel v. Eflanli, 65 So. 3d 1080 (Fla. 4th DCA 2011).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2011 Fla. App. LEXIS 8086, 2011 WL 2135575

...this state; (b) A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under paragraph (a), or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the grounds that this state is the more appropriate forum under s. 61.520 or s. 61.521, and: 1....
...ionships; (c) All courts having jurisdiction under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the grounds that a court of this state is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under s. 61.520 or s. 61.521; or (d) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in paragraph (a), paragraph (b), or paragraph (c)....
...See § 61.506(1), Fla. Stat. The UCCJEA further provides that a court of this state “shall” decline to exercise jurisdiction if that jurisdiction is the product of “unjustifiable conduct” on the part of the party seeking to invoke jurisdiction. See § 61.521(1), Fla....
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Benson v. Evans, 901 So. 2d 893 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005).

Cited 3 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 2005 WL 879616

...section 61.514(1)(a). Based on the child's residence, Texas has jurisdiction. No order in the record reflects that a Texas court "ha[s] declined to exercise jurisdiction on the grounds that this state is the more appropriate forum under s. 61.520 or s. 61.521"; also, the record does not reflect that the mother has "a significant connection with this state other than mere physical presence" and, given the child's long term residence in Texas, there appears to be no evidence available in Broward C...
...The circuit court appears to have accepted jurisdiction, at least in part, because of the father's wrongful conduct. However, "unjustifiable conduct" does not vest jurisdiction in a court; "unjustifiable conduct" by a person seeking to invoke jurisdiction is a basis for a court declining jurisdiction. See § 61.521(1)....
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Medlin v. Medlin, 18 So. 3d 734 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 1st District Court of Appeal | 2009 Fla. App. LEXIS 15547, 2009 WL 3278676

...with its statutory obligation to communicate with the Washington court and, if appropriate, dismiss the Florida case. Petitioner asks this court to direct the circuit court to consider assessment of fees and costs to the wife under the provisions of section 61.521(3), Florida Statutes....
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Navin Chatani v. Heather Blaze (Fla. 3d DCA 2022).

Published | Florida 3rd District Court of Appeal

...Despite the Father’s contention, unjustifiable conduct does not vest a Florida court with jurisdiction. See Benson v. Evans, 901 So. 2d 893, 894–95 (Fla. 4th DCA 2005) (stating “‘unjustifiable conduct’ does not vest jurisdiction in a court”). Section 61.521(1), Florida Statutes, provides “if a court of this state has jurisdiction under this part because a person seeking to invoke its jurisdiction has engaged in unjustifiable conduct, the court shall decline to exercise its jurisdiction.” Essentially, section 61.521 provides that when a party has engaged in unjustifiable conduct to establish jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, a Florida court shall decline, not accept, that jurisdiction....

This Florida statute resource is curated by Graham W. Syfert, Esq., a Jacksonville, Florida personal injury and workers' compensation attorney. For legal consultation, call 904-383-7448.