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The attorneys are both at a total loss what to do. TN cant affect PA, and vice versa.

Already tried Congressmen - they hear custody and say they do NOT get involved whatsoever. Plus - I now live abroad so none really care, although I am still registered to vote in TN and can by law as it was my last resident state.

Re UCCJEA - its clear its a violation - but how do you enforce that? I appealed in PA, but since the judge issued all temporary orders, no appeals will be heard on temp orders.

So that leaves Fed Court. Atty's want $10,000 retainers and say it will cost min $40,000. Since its not criminal, and Im on the "offense" no legal aid is available that I can find anywhere.

Short Summary

In 1996 our son was born in TN, and in 2002 my divorce was processed in TN. A custody order was later also entered in TN granting me custody of the child during the school year, and summer visitation with his mother. The mother had fled to PA. The mother tried to file in PA, but PA deferred to TN. Currently I reside abroad, and my ex-wife now lives in PA. At no time has the child reside in PA for more than 6 months, except for one time when she retained the child illegally in 2005. The retention was ruled a violation and agreed upon by both TN and PA.

Later in 2006, during a summer visitation PA changed its mind and took exclusive jurisdiction and later awarded her fully custody with no visitation to me. TN still exerts jurisdiction as well and has stated it will hold jurisdiction until the child reaches 18. From my understanding PA has not followed several aspects of the UCCJEA.


Because of this in summer 2006 I did not return my son for summer visition. The goal was to force her back to TN again to charge me with a violation and deal with the judge there. Instead she called the FBI and is now threatening me with IPKCA and the Hague convention on child adbuction. I have tried to fight PA jurisdiction, but the PA judge has issued temporary orders and temporary orders cannot be appealed (appeal was turned down on that basis). I have investigated Federal Court, but it is very expensive out outside my financial means.