The Illinois Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UC CJA) is a law that establishes jurisdictional authority for state courts to make and enforce child custody orders. This law was enacted in 1993 to ensure that a child custody dispute would be heard by a court in the state where the child and the child’s family have the greatest connection. Under the UC CJA, a court can make a child custody determination based on a “declaration” submitted by the parents or guardians. This declaration must include the child’s name and address, the parents’ names and addresses, the child’s date of birth, and the state where the child has resided for the past six months. The Illinois Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (UC CJA) recognizes two types of declarations: (1) an Initial Declaration and (2) a Modified Declaration. An Initial Declaration is a document that is filed when a parent or guardian first requests an order for child custody. A Modified Declaration is a document that is filed when an existing child custody order needs to be modified. The UC CJA requires that all declarations be signed by both parents or guardians of the child and notarized by a Notary Public or other official. Once a declaration is filed, the court will review the document and determine whether it meets the requirements of the law. If it does, then the court can make a child custody order based on the information in the declaration.