Mattleman v. Bandler

The issue raised in this interstate child custody dispute is whether New Hampshire has jurisdiction to modify the parties’ divorce decree regarding custody of their two children. We hold that the Superior Court (Bean, J.) erred in assuming jurisdiction to grant temporary custody of the parties’ children to the plaintiff. We vacate the superior court’s order and dismiss the plaintiff’s custody-modification petition.

The plaintiff, Michael Mattleman, and the defendant, Marlene Bandler, were divorced in Maryland in September 1979. Custody of the parties’ two minor children was granted to the…