Tinton Falls resident Dave Goldman may have cleared a major obstacle in the way of reuniting with his son, but he says he is not ready to celebrate.

Brazil's supreme court upheld international custody case rules, shooting down an appeal to block Goldman's 9-year-old son's return to the U.S.

Goldman's son Sean was taken to Brazil in 2004 by the boy's mother. She had given Goldman the impression she was taking the boy on vacation, but never returned. She remarried and died during childbirth last year. Goldman has since been battling with the boy's relatives and stepfather in Brazil for custody of Sean.

"I'm pleased with the decision and hopefully it will diminish the time apart with my son and myself and it will bring us closer to be reunited and going home," says Goldman.

Despite the court's ruling, the pair's return to the U.S. has still been put on hold. Brazil's supreme court ruled it does not have jurisdiction to decide custody and bounced the case back to an appeals court in Rio de Janeiro. That court's ruling will be the final decision in the matter.

For more on the custody battle, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.