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.

Speak to a seasoned Austin lawyer at Andrae Law today by calling (512) 668-7133.

Understanding the UCCJEA

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:

  • Temporary emergency jurisdiction
  • Initial custody determinations
  • Modification of earlier decisions
  • When and why a court may decline to exercise jurisdiction

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!

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  • "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
  • "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
  • "Knowledgeable and compassionate"
    Amanda is a very knowledgeable and compassionate attorney who expertly guides her clients to fair settlements and, when needed, to very good outcomes in the courtroom.
    Anon
  • "Deeply moved by your incredible generosity"

    Amanda, "Thank you" is insufficient, as I am deeply moved by your incredible generosity. Your support, along with Joan and Alex, has been beyond remarkable. I don't know how I would've gotten through this experience without all of you. You and Joan are just as much therapists as you are lawyers. You both fought for me and didn't let me back down when I was emotionally exhausted but you did so with respect and integrity. You provided me with the validation I needed when I doubted myself. I now carry this forward with me and the value of such is priceless. You turned one of the worst experiences of my life into one of my proudest. As a result of the dedication and unwavering support I received from you both, my family will forever be shaped for the better. In sincere gratitude, I wish you all the best.

    Anonymous
  • "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
  • "Perfect amount of understanding and empathy"
    Amanda and her team have exhibited the perfect amount of understanding and empathy balanced with sound legal guidance. Amanda was sensitive to my desires in implementing my divorce and setting up visitation for my ex-husband but didn't let me short myself by giving up more than I needed.
    Anon
  • "Great family lawyer"
    I hired Amanda Andrae to help me with a child conservator issue. I had orders in place already regarding custody and child support but I needed to change them to sole conservatorship in order to take care of everything for my daughter in the complete absence of her father. I knew that changing orders was very difficult and would be even more so without being able to locate the father to serve him. I had also had a terrible experience with the lawyer who wrote the original orders and felt very uncomfortable undergoing the process again. I researched and chose Amanda and her firm carefully and I am so glad I did. Amanda figured out exactly what needed to be done, inspired confidence and calm in me, and took me through the long process with the exact end result I needed for my daughter's safety and best interests. The new orders are perfect, thoughtfully written to reflect our situation rather than boilerplate, and have already worked wonders. With them, I was able to get my daughter a passport and give her school authority to turn away her father if he tried to come pick her up. I feel immense peace of mind knowing my daughter is safe.
    Anon