Court seeks to clarify child custody process

By The Associated Press

Georgia’s top court instructed state judges to treat a foreign country as another U.S. state in child custody cases.

The Georgia Supreme Court opinion released Monday found that a ruling made in a foreign country must be enforced if done under factional circumstances in “substantial conformity” with Georgia law.

The court’s decision found that a lower court was wrong to dismiss a man’s divorce actions against his wife after she returned to her native Italy with the couple’s son.

Family law attorney Randy Kessler said the ruling is significant because it helps clarify which judges have jurisdiction over such disputes.