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HomeFamily CodeDiv. 8Pt. 3Ch. 1§ 3412 Interstate Child Custody Cooperation

§ 3412 Interstate Child Custody Cooperation

Family Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 3412 Interstate Child Custody Cooperation

This law lets courts in different states work together on child custody cases. They can ask each other to gather evidence, hold hearings, or bring people to court.

Key Takeaways

  • •Courts can ask other states for help in child custody cases.
  • •They can order people to show up, give evidence, or get evaluations.
  • •Records about the case must be kept until the child turns 18.
  • •Travel costs for these hearings can be charged to the parents.

Example

A mom in California and a dad in Texas are fighting over where their kid should live.

The California court can ask the Texas court to make the dad come to a hearing or get records about the kid. The Texas court can do the same if asked by California.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 3412 Interstate Child Custody Cooperation

(a) A court of this state may request the appropriate court of another state to do all of the following: (1) Hold an evidentiary hearing. (2) Order a person to produce or give evidence pursuant to procedures of that state. (3) Order that an evaluation be made with respect to the custody of a child involved in a pending proceeding. (4) Forward to the court of this state a certified copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise presented, and any evaluation prepared in compliance with the request. (5) Order a party to a child custody proceeding or any person having physical custody of the child to appear in the proceeding with or without the child. (b) Upon request of a court of another state, a court of this state may hold a hearing or enter an order described in subdivision (a). (c) Travel and other necessary and reasonable expenses incurred under subdivisions (a) and (b) may be assessed against the parties according to the law of this state. (d) A court of this state shall preserve the pleadings, orders, decrees, records of hearings, evaluations, and other pertinent records with respect to a child custody proceeding until the child attains 18 years of age. Upon appropriate request by a court or law enforcement official of another state, the court shall forward a certified copy of those records. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1999, Ch. 867, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2000.)

Last verified: January 9, 2026

Key Terms

evidentiary hearingchild custodycertified copyevaluation

Related Statutes

  • § 3025.5 Child Custody Report Confidentiality
  • § 3026 Family Reunification Service Limits
  • § 508 Confidential Marriage Certificate Access
  • § 509 Confidential Marriage Certificate Access
  • § 1500 Marital Property Agreements

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Family Code. Section 3412.
View Official Source