Missouri Laws 452.725 – Appearance and limited immunity
1. A party to a child custody proceeding who is not subject to personal jurisdiction in this state and is a responding party under sections 452.740 to 452.785, a party in a proceeding to modify a child custody determination under sections 452.740 to 452.785, or a petitioner in a proceeding to enforce or register a child custody determination under sections 452.850 to 452.915 may appear and participate in such proceeding without submitting to personal jurisdiction over the party for another proceeding or purpose.
2. A party is not subject to personal jurisdiction in this state solely by being physically present for the purpose of participating in a proceeding under sections 452.700 to 452.930. If a party is subject to personal jurisdiction in this state on a basis other than physical presence, the party may be served with process in this state. If a party present in this state is subject to the jurisdiction of another state, service of process permissible under the laws of the other state may be accomplished in this state.
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 452.725
- Custody: means joint legal custody, sole legal custody, joint physical custody or sole physical custody or any combination thereof. See Missouri Laws 452.375
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
- Service of process: The service of writs or summonses to the appropriate party.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
3. The immunity granted by this section shall not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to the participation in a proceeding under sections 452.700 to 452.930 committed by an individual while present in this state.