Bronk v. Hobson

KITCHENS, Justice,

for the Court:

¶ 1. Today we are called upon to determine whether a county court had jurisdiction to determine child custody in a paternity action in 1999. We hold that it did not, and that county courts do not have jurisdiction to make child custody determinations ab initio. Accordingly, we must reverse the custody determination of the County Court of Lauderdale County and remand the case to the county court with instructions to transfer the proceedings to chancery court.

BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS

¶ 2. In 1999 the County Court of Laud-erdale County determined that Brian Bronk…