(a) Except as otherwise provided in § 1923 of this title, a court of this State has jurisdiction to make an initial child custody determination only if:
- (1) This State is the home state of the child on the date of the commencement of the proceeding or was the home state of the child within 6 months before the commencement of the proceeding and the child is absent from this State but a parent or person acting as a parent continues to live in this State;
(2) A court of another state does not have jurisdiction under paragraph (1) of this subsection, or a court of the home state of the child has declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that this State is the more appropriate forum under § 1926 or § 1927 of this title; and
- a. The child and the child’s parents, or the child and at least one parent or a person acting as a parent, have a significant connection with this State other than mere physical presence; and
- b. Substantial evidence is available in this State concerning the child’s care, protection, training, and personal relationships;
- (3) All courts having jurisdiction under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection have declined to exercise jurisdiction on the ground that a court of this State is the more appropriate forum to determine the custody of the child under § 1926 or § 1927 of this title; or
- (4) No court of any other state would have jurisdiction under the criteria specified in paragraph (1), (2) or (3) of this subsection.
- (b) Subsection (a) of this section is the exclusive jurisdictional basis for making a child custody determination by a court of this State.
- (c) Physical presence of or personal jurisdiction over a party or a child is not necessary or sufficient to make a child custody determination.
73 Del. Laws, c. 426, § 1