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Family & Custody
RSMo 452.720effective 28 Aug 2009

International application of act

In plain English

Missouri courts treat other countries like U.S. states when dealing with child custody cases from abroad. If another country made a custody decision using rules similar to Missouri's rules, Missouri courts will honor that decision. But if that other country's custody laws go against basic human rights, Missouri courts do not have to follow those rules.

Word-for-word law

452.720. International of act. — 1. A court of this state shall treat a foreign country as a state of the United States for purposes of applying sections 452.700 to 452.785.

2. A made in a foreign country under factual circumstances in with the of sections 452.700 to 452.930 shall be and enforced under sections 452.850 to 452.915.

3. The court need not apply the of sections 452.700 to 452.930 when the child law of the other country violates .

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Source & history notes

(L. 2009 H.B. 481)

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 452.720: International application of act | KnowMo Laws