Lakers guard Luka Dončić reunited with daughters Gabriela and Olivia in Ljubljana in April 2026 after a four-month separation, his first contact with them since December 2025, according to ESPN. Ex-fiancée Anamaria Goltes filed for child support and attorney fees in California, while Dončić filed an interim injunction in Slovenian courts on February 26, 2026. The dispute presents a textbook international jurisdictional conflict under California Family Code § 3421 (UCCJEA) that affects hundreds of California families with foreign-national children each year.
Key Facts
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| What happened | Luka Dončić reunited with daughters in Slovenia after 4-month separation |
| When | April 2026 (first contact since December 2025) |
| Where | Competing filings in California and Ljubljana, Slovenia |
| Who's affected | Luka Dončić, Anamaria Goltes, daughters Gabriela and Olivia |
| Key statute | California Family Code § 3421 (UCCJEA), Hague Convention Article 3 |
| Legal representation | Laura Wasser (Dončić), California counsel for Goltes |
| Impact | Tests California's "home state" rule against Slovenian residence |
Why this matters legally
This case will be decided primarily on jurisdiction, not custody merits. Under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), adopted by California in 1999 and codified at Cal. Fam. Code § 3421, only one state or country has authority to make initial custody determinations — the child's "home state," defined as where the child has lived with a parent for at least six consecutive months immediately before the filing.
If Gabriela and Olivia lived in Slovenia for the six months preceding Goltes's California filing, Slovenian courts likely hold exclusive jurisdiction over custody — regardless of where either parent filed first. California judges routinely decline jurisdiction under § 3421 when children have established residence abroad, even when one parent is a California resident or employed in the state.
Child support, however, follows different rules. The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA), codified at Cal. Fam. Code § 5700.201, allows California to exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident if the obligor resides, works, or has sufficient contacts in California. Dončić's Lakers contract and California residence almost certainly establish support jurisdiction here, even if custody belongs to Slovenia.
How California law handles this
California applies a three-tier jurisdictional analysis in international custody cases. First, under Cal. Fam. Code § 3421(a)(1), the court determines whether California qualifies as the children's home state within the six-month lookback period. Reports indicate the daughters have resided in Slovenia since at least December 2025, which would place the home state in Ljubljana, not Los Angeles.
Second, under Cal. Fam. Code § 3424, California retains narrow temporary emergency jurisdiction if a child is present in California and subjected to abuse or abandonment. No public reporting suggests this exception applies here.
Third, California treats foreign countries as functional equivalents of U.S. states under Cal. Fam. Code § 3405, meaning Slovenia receives the same jurisdictional priority as, say, Nevada would. California courts must enforce Slovenian custody orders issued consistent with UCCJEA principles, and Slovenia is a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction — which California family courts apply in tandem with state law.
For support, California courts may issue an order against a resident NBA player earning approximately $43 million in 2025-2026 base salary regardless of where the children live. Under California's guideline formula at Cal. Fam. Code § 4055, high-earner cases routinely exceed the statutory formula when courts find additional support serves the children's best interests, a principle affirmed in In re Marriage of Cheriton (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 269. Attorney's fees under Cal. Fam. Code § 2030 are similarly available when one party has significantly greater resources.
Practical takeaways
California residents facing international custody questions should take six concrete steps:
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Document the six-month timeline. Keep dated records of school enrollment, medical visits, and daily care in each country — this evidence controls UCCJEA home-state determination under Cal. Fam. Code § 3421.
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File first strategically, not reflexively. Filing in the wrong forum wastes legal fees and can waive jurisdictional arguments. Courts examine residence, not filing dates.
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Separate custody and support claims. California can order support even when it lacks custody jurisdiction under Cal. Fam. Code § 5700.201 (UIFSA).
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Request an Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act conference. Cal. Fam. Code § 3410 allows California judges to confer directly with foreign courts to resolve competing claims.
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Preserve Hague Convention remedies. If a child is retained outside their habitual residence, Article 12 of the 1980 Hague Convention provides a 12-month return remedy. Act before year-one expiration.
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Retain international family law counsel. Standard divorce attorneys often lack UCCJEA and Hague Convention experience. Ask prospective counsel about specific international matters they have handled.
Frequently asked questions
What determines custody jurisdiction when parents live in different countries?
Under Cal. Fam. Code § 3421, the child's "home state" controls — defined as the country where the child lived with a parent for six consecutive months before filing. Parent residence and citizenship are largely irrelevant to initial custody jurisdiction. Emergency jurisdiction under § 3424 applies only in abuse or abandonment cases.
Can California order child support if the children live abroad?
Yes. Under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act at Cal. Fam. Code § 5700.201, California can order support against any obligor who resides, works, or has substantial contacts in California — even when children live overseas. A Lakers contract creates strong California support jurisdiction regardless of where the children reside.
How does the Hague Convention affect international custody?
The 1980 Hague Convention, ratified by Slovenia and the United States, requires prompt return of children wrongfully removed or retained outside their "habitual residence." Article 12 establishes a 12-month filing window. California courts enforce Hague petitions through the federal International Child Abduction Remedies Act (22 U.S.C. § 9001).
What is an interim injunction in international custody cases?
An interim injunction is a temporary court order preserving the status quo while jurisdiction is decided — typically maintaining current residence and visitation. Slovenian courts issued one at Dončić's request on February 26, 2026. California offers similar relief under Cal. Fam. Code § 3424 for emergency custody situations.
Do California courts enforce foreign custody orders?
Yes. Under Cal. Fam. Code § 3405, California treats foreign-country custody orders with the same recognition as sister-state orders, provided they were issued under procedures substantially conforming to UCCJEA principles. Courts may decline recognition only when the foreign process violated fundamental principles of human rights.
Get help from a California family law attorney
International custody and high-asset support cases require attorneys with UCCJEA, UIFSA, and Hague Convention experience. If you're navigating a cross-border custody question in California, connect with an exclusive member attorney in your county.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.