Jurisdiction We're In This Together

Austin Lawyers for Jurisdictional Matters

Navigating You Through the Maze of Family Law

The most difficult aspect of legal matters concerning family relationships often seems to be in determining where the suit should be filed. Jurisdictional issues can arise involving different state, county, and venue guidelines and borders. The laws are complex. In order to ensure that you are entering into your legal proceedings in a proper and valid manner, you should contact an attorney to help walk you through the process.

Contact Andrae Law's Austin Attorneys for Legal Support today by calling (512) 668-7133.

Comprehensive Overview of the UCCJEA in Texas

The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act or UCCJEA replaced the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act or UCCJA in order to correct inconsistencies between national and state laws. It also served to further enforce child custody determinations across state lines. The UCCJEA helped create firmer guidelines for determining when a state court has jurisdiction to make or alter custody orders, as well as how the decisions should be enforced by the courts.

The section of the UCCJEA focused on jurisdiction helps clarify the role of the state in custody proceedings including:

Why Choose Andrae Law, PLLC?

  • Committed to Giving Back
    Our firm is involved with giving back to the legal profession and the community.
  • Board Certified
    Amanda Andrae is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
  • Experienced Attorneys
    Our attorneys have over 40 years of combined legal experience.

How it Works in Texas

One of the most important considerations for Texas courts is determining if Texas can be considered the child’s home state. If it appears that Texas courts do have proper jurisdiction, the family lawsuit may be filed.

However, a Texas court can have temporary emergency jurisdiction for any of the following situations:

  • The child is present in Texas
  • The child has been abandoned
  • The child needs to be protected because they are being threatened

Confused? We understand. Schedule an appointment to come in and discuss your jurisdiction concerns with our Austin attorneys with over 35 years of collective experience.

Contact Us Today!

A member of our team will be in touch shortly to confirm your contact details or address questions you may have.

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  • "They are knowledgeable"
    Amanda Andrae and J. Riggs make a great team. They are knowledgeable about the law and will ensure you are well taken care of. Do not hesitate to put your trust in them with your family law case.
    Clare M.
  • "excellent work from J.!"
    excellent work from J.!
    Madhu S.
  • "Ethical, compassionate, dedicated attorney in an extremely complicated and difficult situation."
    Amanda Andrae is an ethical, compassionate, dedicated attorney who truly cares about what is important in family law, the best interest of the child. My situation was beyond complex and difficult with respect to the dyamics of all the involved parties, therapists, attorneys, witnesses, etc. Amanda did not falter in her ability to skillfully manage both the "people" side of things and the legal/ technical. She is honest and responsive, and truly went above and beyond to find ways to resolve an impossible situation. Amanda is also well respected by other attorneys, judges and therapists in Austin, which is important. In a situation where there were often no good answers, she did what she does best, which is think strategically, creatively, and always focus on what was best for my children and for me. If you want an ethical, compassionate, skilled family law attorney, I highly recommend Amanda Andrae.
    Anon
  • "Amanda is the one to call!"

    I cannot recommend Amanda Andrae highly enough! From the very beginning, she demonstrated an incredible depth of experience in my child custody matters, guiding me through every step with professionalism and care. They truly took the time to understand my situation with my ex, offering thoughtful advice while always keeping my children’s best interests at heart.

    What stood out most was their balance of compassion and strength—providing the support I needed while being firm and strategic when it mattered most. Thanks to their dedication and expertise, I felt confident and well-represented throughout the entire process. If you’re looking for an attorney who genuinely cares but will also fight for you, Amanda is the one to call!

    Andrew S.
  • "I can't say enough great things about J.!"
    I can't say enough great things about J.!
    Former Client
  • "Excellent & Trustworthy divorce attorney"
    Amanda and her team impressed me from the very get-go. If you want an attorney who is responsive, who will work as much within your budget as possible, and will keep you clearly informed throughout your legal journey - I recommend Amanda fully and without reservation. In my case, it was a relatively agreeable divorce situation with children, multiple properties and businesses involved. And as my divorce attorney, I could not have asked for better representation and sound advice. As with any divorce, I had some times of pretty high emotion and Amanda was kind, non-judgmental and very understanding to the challenges I was facing. And along the way, Amanda and I shared some great laughs which made the tough situation of divorce a bit easier. Are there things that Amanda's office could probably do better? Sure. But that's true of any attorney or any business practice. What she does best is what matters most - and that is ensuring her clients are protected, advised, and represented professionally with the highest ethical standards.
    Anon
  • "They were great with communication"
    I am very pleased with Andrae Law. I got divorced and had a child custody matter I needed help with and they handled it. They were very direct with what my options were. If I was confused about something they were very good about explaining the process and what had to be done. They were great with communication, via email and phone. I've had attorneys in the past that wouldn't return my call for up to a week, I was very happy that didn't happen with this firm. I feel I definitely got my money's worth. I highly recommend Amanda Andrae & Sally Pretorius with Andrae Law.
    Anon
  • "This firm has my highest recommendation."
    Amanda Andrae is one of my preferred mediators. She WILL settle the case! J. Riggs is one of my preferred attorneys. I know when I recommend him to people that he will do a great job representing them. This firm has my highest recommendation.
    Jessica B.