In cases of conflicting child court orders from different states, the remedy is to domesticate the out-of-state order.

• A. Resolve the conflict by responding officer in the field.
• B. Ignore one order and follow the other.
• C. Domesticate the out-of-state court order.
• D. Seek guidance from a supervisor.

Answer: (C)

When two states issue different custody orders for the same child, the way to resolve the conflict is to domesticate the out-of-state order so it can be enforced in the state where the child is located. Domestication, or recognizing a foreign custody order, gives that order full enforceability here under the rules of the applicable interstate statute (often the UCCJEA framework). This creates a single, valid order that law enforcement and local courts can follow, reducing confusion and preventing the situation where two conflicting orders are each treated as if they’re controlling.

In practice, you’d establish the foreign order in the home state’s system so it becomes an enforceable local order. This avoids trying to resolve on-site which order should apply and ensures there's a clear, legally recognized basis for enforcement. Ignoring an order, trying to rely on field discretion, or waiting for informal supervisor guidance without pursuing formal recognition would leave the child unprotected and the situation legally unsettled.