In Re Marriage of Dedie and Springston

I. Introduction

This original proceeding concerns an interstate child custody dispute between a divoreed mother and father. The parties' two children currently live in Colorado with their mother, Melissa J. Springston, and step-father. The boy is eleven years old, and the girl is nine years old. The father, Mark S. Dedie, lives in New York State. In this case, a New York family court referee ruled that New York no longer had exelusive, continuing jurisdiction over an initial child custody determination entered in New York, which gave primary physical custody of the children to the mother,…