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Bill 17

TO AMEND SUBARTICLE 5, ARTICLE 9, CHAPTER 7, TITLE 20, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO THE UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT, TO REPLACE THIS ACT WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION OF THIS UNIFORM ACT AND TO FURTHER PROVIDE FOR UNIFORM LEGISLATION TO ASSIST WITH THE INTERSTATE ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT, INCLUDING CIVIL AND CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, AND TO PRESERVE RIGHTS AND DUTIES UNDER THE FORMER UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    Subarticle 5, Article 9, Chapter 7, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended to read:

Section 20-7-960.    This subarticle may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act".

Section 20-7-965.    As used in this subarticle:

(1) "Child" means an individual, whether over or under the age of majority, who is or may be owed a duty of support by the child's parent or who is or may be the beneficiary of a support order directed to that parent.

(2) "Child support order" means a support order for a child which may include support for a child over the age of majority under the law of the issuing state.

(3) "Duty of support" means an obligation imposable by law to provide support for a child, spouse, or former spouse including an unsatisfied obligation to provide support.

(4) "Home state" means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the time of filing of a proceeding for support, and if a child is less than six months old, the state in which the child lived from birth with any of them. A period of temporary absence of any of them is counted as part of the six-month or other period.

(5) "Income" includes earnings or other periodic entitlements to money from any source and any other funds or assets subject to withholding for support under the law of this State.

(6) "Income withholding order" means an order or other legal process directed to withhold support from the obligor's income.

(7) "Initiating state" means a state from which a proceeding is forwarded or in which a proceeding is filed for forwarding to a responding state under this subarticle or a law or procedure substantially similar to this subarticle, or under a law or procedure substantially similar to the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

(8) "Initiating tribunal" means the appropriate tribunal in an initiating state.

(9) "Issuing state" means the state in which a tribunal issues a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.

(10) "Issuing tribunal" means the tribunal that issues a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.

(11) "Law" includes decisional and statutory law and rules and regulations having the force of law.

(12) "Obligee" means:

(a) an individual to whom a duty of support is or may be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or judgment determining parentage has been rendered;

(b) a state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or which has independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee; or

(c) an individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of that individual's child.

(13) "Obligor" means an individual or the estate of a decedent:

(a) who owes or may owe a duty of support including an individual who is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or

(b) who is liable under a support order.

(14) "Register" means to record a support order or judgment determining parentage in the Registry of Foreign Support.

(15) "Registering tribunal" means a tribunal in which a support order is registered.

(16) "Responding state" means a state in which a proceeding is filed or to which a proceeding is forwarded for filing from an initiating state under this subarticle or a law substantially similar to this subarticle, or under a law or procedure substantially similar to the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

(17) "Responding tribunal" means the appropriate tribunal in a responding state.

(18) "Spousal support order" means a support order for a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.

(19) "State" means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term "state" includes an Indian tribe and includes a foreign jurisdiction that has enacted a law or established procedures for issuance and enforcement of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under this subarticle or the procedures under the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

(20) "Substantially similar law" means a law similar to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

(21) "Support enforcement agency" means a public official or the public official's designees or the agency or the agency's designees authorized to enforce laws relating to the duty of support or an existing support order, to determine parentage, to establish, modify, and enforce child support, or to locate obligors and their assets.

(22) "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or order for the benefit of a child, a spouse, or a former spouse, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, for monetary support, health care, any arrearage, reimbursement, and may include related costs and fees, interest, income withholding, attorney's fees, or other appropriate relief.

(23) "Tribunal" means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce, and modify support orders or to determine parentage.

Section 20-7-970.    The tribunals of this State are the family court and the support enforcement agency. For purposes of continuing exclusive jurisdiction under this subarticle, the tribunals of this State have concurrent jurisdiction to establish, modify, and enforce child support in cases being administered pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

Section 20-7-974.    Repealed by 1994 Act No. 494, Section 1, eff July 1, 1994.

Section 20-7-975. Remedies provided by this subarticle are cumulative and do not affect the availability of any remedies under any other law.

Section 20-7-980.    In a proceeding to establish, enforce, or modify a support order or to determine parentage, the tribunals may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or that individual's guardian or conservator if:

(1) the individual is personally served with a summons and complaint within this State;

(2) the individual submits to the jurisdiction of this State by consent, by entering a general appearance, or by filing a responsive document having the effect of waiving any contest to personal jurisdiction;

(3) the individual resided with the child in this State;

(4) the individual resided in this State and provided prenatal expenses or support for the child;

(5) the child resides in this State as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;

(6) the individual engaged in sexual intercourse in this State and the child may have been conceived by that act of intercourse; or

(7) there is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of this State and the United States for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-985.     The tribunal exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident under Section 20-7-980 may apply Section 20-7-1100 to receive evidence from another state and Section 20-7-1110 to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state. In all other respects, Sections 20-7-1025 through 20-7-1158 do not apply, and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this State, including the rules on choice of law other than those established by this subarticle.

Section 20-7-990.    Under this subarticle a tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating tribunal to forward proceedings to another state and as a responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state.

Section 20-7-995.    (A) A tribunal of this State may exercise jurisdiction in a proceeding to establish a support order filed after a similar proceeding is filed in another state only if:

(1) the proceeding in this State is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state;

(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state; and,

(3) if applicable, this State is the home state of the child.

(B) A tribunal of this State may not exercise jurisdiction in a proceeding to establish a support order filed before a similar proceeding is filed in another state if:

(1) the proceeding in the other state is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in this State for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this State;

(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in this State; and,

(3) if applicable, the other state is the home state of the child.

Section 20-7-1000.    (A) A tribunal of this State issuing a support order consistent with the law of this State has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction as long as this State remains the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued.

(B) A tribunal of this State issuing a child support order consistent with the law of this State may not exercise its continuing jurisdiction to modify the order if:

(1) the order has been modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to a law substantially similar to this subarticle; or

(2) each individual party has filed written consent with the family court for a tribunal of another state to modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

(C) If a child support order of this State is modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to a law substantially similar to this subarticle, a tribunal of this State loses its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction, and the order issued in this State may be enforced only as to amounts accruing before the modification and nonmodifiable aspects of the original order and appropriate relief may be granted only for violations of the order occurring before the effective date of modification.

(D) A tribunal of this State shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of a tribunal of another state which has issued a child support order pursuant to a law substantially similar to this subarticle.

(E) A temporary support order issued ex parte or pending resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal.

Section 20-7-1005.    (A) A tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating tribunal under this subarticle to request a tribunal of another state to enforce or modify a support order of that state.

(B) A tribunal of this State having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal under this subarticle to enforce or modify that order. In exercising its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over its support order, the tribunal may apply Section 20-7-1100 to receive evidence from another state and Section 20-7-1110 to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state.

(C) If a tribunal of this State lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order, it may not serve as a responding tribunal to modify a spousal support order of another state.

Section 20-7-1010.    (A) If a proceeding is brought under this subarticle and only one tribunal has issued a child support order, the order of that tribunal is controlling and must be recognized.

(B) If a proceeding is brought under this subarticle and two or more child support orders have been issued by tribunals of this State or another state with regard to the same obligor and child, a tribunal of this State shall apply the following rules in determining which order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction:

(1) if only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under the provisions of this subarticle, the order of that tribunal is controlling and must be recognized;

(2) if more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under the provisions of this subarticle, an order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child must be recognized, however, if an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued is controlling and must be recognized;

(3) if none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under the provisions of this subarticle, a tribunal of this State having jurisdiction over the parties must issue a child support order which is controlling and must be recognized.

(C) If two or more child support orders have been issued for the same obligor and child and if the obligor or the individual obligee resides in this State, a party may request a tribunal of this State to determine which order controls and must be recognized under subsection (B). The request must be accompanied by a certified copy of every support order in effect. Every party whose rights may be affected by a determination of the controlling order must be given notice of the request for that determination.

(D) The tribunal that issued the order that must be recognized as controlling under subsection (A), (B), or (C) is the tribunal that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in accordance with Section 20-7-1000.

(E) A tribunal of this State which determines by order the identity of the controlling child support order under subsections (B)(1) or (B)(2) or which issues a new controlling child support order under subsection (B)(3) shall include in that order the basis upon which the tribunal made its determination.

(F) Within thirty days after issuance of the order determining the identity of the controlling order, the party obtaining that order shall file a certified copy of it with each tribunal that had issued or registered an earlier order of child support. Failure of the party obtaining the order to file a certified copy as required subjects that party to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises, however, that failure has no effect on the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.

Section 20-7-1015.    In responding to multiple registrations or complaints for enforcement of two or more child support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the same obligor and different obligees who are natural persons, at least one of which was issued by a tribunal of another state, a tribunal of this State shall enforce those orders in the same manner as if the multiple orders had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

Section 20-7-1020.    Amounts collected and credited for a particular period pursuant to a support order issued by a tribunal of another state must be credited against the amounts accruing or accrued for the same period under a support order issued by a tribunal of this State.

Section 20-7-1025.    (A) Except as otherwise expressly stated, Sections 20-7-1025 through 20-7-1115 apply to all proceedings under this subarticle.

(B) A tribunal of this State has jurisdiction, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, to do one or more of the following:

(1) modify an order of child support or spousal support issued by a tribunal of this State;

(2) establish an original order for spousal or child support;

(3) enforce a support order and income withholding order of another state without registration;

(4) register a spousal support order or child support order of another state for enforcement;

(5) register a child support order of another state for modification; and

(6) determine parentage.

(C) An individual plaintiff or a support enforcement agency may bring a proceeding authorized under this subarticle by filing a complaint in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a complaint directly in an appropriate tribunal of another state which has or can obtain jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1030.    A minor or a guardian ad litem or other legal representative appointed for the minor may maintain a proceeding on behalf of the minor's child.

Section 20-7-1035.    Unless otherwise provided by this subarticle, a responding tribunal shall:

(1) apply the procedural and substantive law, including the rules on choice of law, generally applicable to similar proceedings originating in this State and may exercise all powers and provide all remedies available in those proceedings; and

(2) determine the duty of support and the amount payable in accordance with the law and support guidelines of this State.

Section 20-7-1040.    (A) Upon the filing of a proceeding authorized by this subarticle, a tribunal of this State as an initiating tribunal shall forward three copies of the complaint and its accompanying documents:

(1) to the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding state; or

(2) if the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.

(B) If a responding state has not enacted this subarticle or a law or procedure substantially similar to this subarticle, a tribunal of this State may issue a certificate or other documents and make findings required by the law of the responding state. If the responding state is a foreign jurisdiction, the tribunal may specify the amount of support sought and provide other documents necessary to satisfy the requirements of the responding state.

Section 20-7-1045.    (A) If a responding tribunal receives a complaint, it shall cause the complaint to be filed and notify the plaintiff by first-class mail where and when it was filed.

(B) A tribunal of this State as a responding tribunal, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, may do one or more of the following:

(1) issue or enforce a support order, modify a child support order, or render a judgment to determine parentage;

(2) order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;

(3) order income withholding;

(4) determine the amount of any arrearage, and specify a method of payment;

(5) enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;

(6) set aside property for satisfaction of the support order;

(7) place liens and order execution on the obligor's property;

(8) order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor's current residential address, telephone number, employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment;

(9) issue a bench warrant for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered by the family court and enter the bench warrant in any local and state computer systems for criminal warrants;

(10) order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;

(11) award reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and costs; and

(12) grant any other available remedy.

(C) A responding tribunal shall state in a support order, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order issued under this subarticle is based.

(D) A responding tribunal may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this subarticle upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.

(E) If a responding tribunal issues a support order under this subarticle, the tribunal shall send by first-class mail a copy of the order to the plaintiff and the defendant and to the initiating tribunal, if any.

Section 20-7-1050.     If a proceeding is brought in an inappropriate tribunal of this State, the tribunal shall forward the complaint and accompanying documents to the appropriate tribunal in this State or in another state and notify the plaintiff by first-class mail where and when the complaint was sent.

Section 20-7-1055.    (A) A support enforcement agency of this State shall provide services upon request to a plaintiff in a proceeding under this subarticle.

(B) A support enforcement agency that is providing services to the plaintiff shall as appropriate:

(1) take all steps necessary to enable the appropriate tribunal to obtain jurisdiction over the defendant;

(2) request the appropriate tribunal to set a time and place for a hearing;

(3) make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including the assets and income of the parties;

(4) within two business days after receipt of a written notice from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal send a copy of the notice by first-class mail to the plaintiff;

(5) within two business days after receipt of a written communication from the defendant or the defendant's attorney send a copy of the communication by first-class mail to the plaintiff; and

(6) notify the plaintiff if jurisdiction over the defendant cannot be obtained.

(C) This subarticle does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.

Section 20-7-1060.    If the Attorney General determines that the support enforcement agency is neglecting or refusing to provide services to an individual, the Attorney General may order the agency to perform its duties under this subarticle or may provide those services directly to the individual.

Section 20-7-1065.    An individual may employ private counsel to represent the individual in proceedings authorized by this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1070.    (A) The Department of Social Services is the state information agency under this subarticle.

(B) The state information agency shall:

(1) compile and maintain a current list, including addresses, of the tribunals in this State which have jurisdiction under this subarticle and any support enforcement agencies in this State and transmit a copy to the state information agency of every other state;

(2) maintain a register of lists of tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from other states;

(3) forward to the appropriate tribunal for the county in which the obligee or obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is believed to be located, all documents concerning a proceeding under this subarticle received from the initiating tribunal or the state information agency of the initiating state; and

(4) obtain information concerning the location of the obligor and the obligor's property not exempt from execution, including use of postal verification and federal or state locator services, examination of telephone directories, requests for the obligor's address from employers, and examination of governmental records including, if not prohibited by other law, those relating to real property, vital statistics, law enforcement, taxation, motor vehicles, driver's licenses, and social security.

Section 20-7-1075.    (A) A plaintiff seeking to establish or modify a support order or to determine parentage in proceeding under this subarticle must verify the complaint. Unless otherwise ordered under Section 20-7-1080, the complaint or accompanying documents must provide, so far as known, the name, residential address, and social security number of the obligor and the obligee and the name, sex, residential address, social security number, and date of birth of each child for whom support is sought. The complaint must be accompanied by a certified copy of any support order in effect and may include any other information that may assist in locating or identifying the defendant.

(B) The complaint and accompanying documents must specify the relief sought and conform substantially with the requirements imposed by the forms mandated by federal law for use in cases filed by a support enforcement agency.

Section 20-7-1080.    Upon a finding that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be unreasonably put at risk by the disclosure of identifying information or if an existing order so provides, a tribunal shall order that the address of a child or party or other identifying information not be disclosed in a pleading or other document filed in a proceeding under this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1085.    (A) A tribunal may not require the plaintiff to pay a filing fee or other costs.

(B) A responding tribunal may assess against an obligor reasonable attorney's fees, filing fees, other costs, and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of either the initiating or the responding state, except as provided by other law. Attorney's fees may be taxed as costs, and may be ordered paid directly to the attorney who may enforce the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of those costs and fees does not have priority over amounts of support owed to the obligee.

(C) A tribunal of this State shall order, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, the payment of costs and reasonable attorney's fees if it determines that a hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under Sections 20-7-1132 through 20-7-1154, the tribunal shall presume that a hearing was requested primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.

Section 20-7-1090.    (A) Participation by a plaintiff in a responding tribunal in a proceeding under this subarticle, whether in person, by private attorney, or through services provided by the support enforcement agency, does not permit the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the plaintiff in another proceeding.

(B) A plaintiff is not amenable to service of civil process while physically present in this State to participate in proceedings under this subarticle.

(C) The immunity granted by this section does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to the proceedings under this subarticle committed by a party while present in this State.

Section 20-7-1095.    A party whose parentage of a child has previously been determined by law may not plead nonparentage as a defense to a proceeding under this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1100.    (A) The physical presence of the plaintiff in a responding tribunal of this State is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining parentage.

(B) A verified complaint, affidavit, document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, and any document incorporated by reference in any of them, not excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible if given in writing and under oath by a party or witness residing in another state.

(C) A copy of the record of child support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is prima facie evidence of facts asserted in it and is admissible to show whether payments were made.

(D) If copies of bills are furnished to the adverse party at least ten days before the date of an administrative or judicial hearing, the bills for testing for parentage and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child must be admitted as evidence without third party foundation testimony and are prima facie evidence of the amounts incurred for these testing services and that these amounts that the charges billed were reasonable, necessary, and customary.

(E) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a tribunal of this State by telephone, telecopier, or other means that do not provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.

(F) In a proceeding under this subarticle, a tribunal of this State may permit a party or witness residing in another state to testify by telephone conference at a designated tribunal or other location in that state. A tribunal of this State shall cooperate with tribunals of other states in designating an appropriate location for a telephone conference.

(G) If a party called to testify at a civil hearing declines to answer on the ground that the testimony may tend to be incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal to testify.

(H) A privilege against disclosure of spousal communications between the parties does not apply in a proceeding under this subarticle.

(I) A defense of immunity because of the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a proceeding under this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1105.    A tribunal of this State may communicate with a tribunal of another state in writing or by telephone or other means to obtain information concerning the laws of that state, the legal effect of any judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of any proceeding in the other state.

Section 20-7-1110.    A tribunal of this State, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, may:

(1) request a tribunal of another state to assist in obtaining discovery; and

(2) upon request compel a person over whom it has jurisdiction to respond to discovery orders issued by a tribunal of another state.

Section 20-7-1115.    A support enforcement agency or a tribunal of this State shall disburse promptly any amounts received pursuant to a support order as directed by the order. The agency or tribunal shall furnish a requesting party or tribunal of another state with a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.

Section 20-7-1120.    (A) If a support order entitled to recognition under this subarticle has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this State may issue a support order if:

(1) the individual seeking the order resides in another state; or

(2) the support enforcement agency seeking the order is located in another state.

(B) A tribunal of this State, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, may issue a temporary order if:

(1) the defendant has signed a verified statement acknowledging paternity;

(2) the defendant has been determined pursuant to law to be the parent; or

(3) there is other clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is the child's parent.

(C) After notice and hearing, upon finding that an obligor owes a duty of support, a tribunal of this State shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may issue other orders pursuant to Section 20-7-1045.

Section 20-7-1124.    An income withholding order issued in another state may be sent by first-class mail to the person or entity defined as the obligor's employer under Section 20-7-1315 et seq., without first filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal in this State.

Section 20-7-1125.    (A) Upon receipt of an income withholding order of another state, the obligor's employer immediately shall provide a copy of the order to the obligor.

(B) The employer shall treat an income withholding order issued in another state which appears regular on its face as if it had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

(C) Except as provided in subsection (D) and Section 20-7-1126, the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order by complying with the terms of the order, as applicable, that specify:

(1) the duration and the amount of periodic payments of current child support, stated as a sum certain;

(2) the person or agency designated to receive payments and the address to which payments are to be forwarded;

(3) medical support, whether in the form of periodic cash payment stated as a sum certain or ordering the obligor to provide health insurance coverage for the child under a policy available through the obligor's employment;

(4) the amount of periodic payments of fees and costs for a support enforcement agency, the issuing tribunal, and the obligee's attorney, stated as sums certain; and

(5) the amount of periodic payments of arrears and interest on arrears, stated as sums certain.

(D) The employer shall comply with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment for withholding from income with respect to:

(1) the employer's fee for processing an income withholding order;

(2) the maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income; and

(3) the time periods within which the employer must implement the withholding order and forward the child support payment.

Section 20-7-1126.    If the obligor's employer receives multiple orders to withhold support from the earnings of the same obligor, and if the employer complies with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment for the establishment of priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for multiple child support obligees, the employer is deemed to have satisfied the terms of the multiple orders.

Section 20-7-1127.    An employer who complies with an income withholding order issued in another state in accordance with this subarticle is not subject to civil liability to any individual or agency with regard to the employer's withholding child support from the obligor's income.

Section 20-7-1128.    An employer who wilfully fails to comply with an income withholding order issued by another state and received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a tribunal of this State.

Section 20-7-1129.    (A) An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income withholding order issued in another state and received directly by an employer in this State in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

(B) The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:

(1) a support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee;

(2) each employer which has directly received an income withholding order; and

(3) the person or agency designated to receive payments in the income withholding order; or if no person or agency is designated, to the obligee.

Section 20-7-1130.    (A) A party seeking to enforce a support order, an income withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of another state may send the documents required for registering the order to a support enforcement agency of this State.

(B) On receipt of the documents the support enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any administrative procedure available to enforce a support order, an income withholding order, or both. If the obligor does not contest administrative enforcement, the support order need not be registered. If the obligor contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the order by asserting a ground for contesting the order recognized by the law of this State, the support enforcement agency shall register the order pursuant to this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1132.    A support order or an income withholding order issued by a tribunal of another state may be registered in this State for purposes of enforcement.

Section 20-7-1134.     (A) A support order or income withholding order of another state may be registered in this State by sending the following documents and information to the Department of Social Services:

(1) a letter of transmittal to the department requesting registration and enforcement;

(2) two copies, including one certified copy, of all orders to be registered, including any modification of an order;

(3) a sworn statement by the party seeking registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;

(4) the name of the obligor and, if known:

(a) the obligor's address and social security number;

(b) the name and address of the obligor's employer and any source of income of the obligor; and

(c) a description and the location of property of the obligor in this State not exempt from execution; and

(5) the name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the agency or person to whom support payments are to be remitted.

(B) On receipt of a request for registration the department shall cause the order to be filed as a foreign judgment together with one copy of the documents and information regardless of their form.

(C) A complaint seeking an enforcement remedy that must be specifically pled under the law of this State may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or at a later date. The complaint shall set forth the express grounds that provide the basis for the remedy sought.

Section 20-7-1135.    Renumbered as Section 20-7-1132 at direction of Code Commissioner.

Section 20-7-1136.    (A) A support order or income withholding order issued in another state is registered as of the filing of the order in the Registry of Foreign Support.

(B) A registered order of another state has the same effect and is subject to the same procedures and defenses as an order of this State and may be enforced and satisfied in the same manner.

(C) Except as provided in Sections 20-7-1132 through 20-7-1154, a tribunal of this State shall recognize and enforce and may not modify a registered order if the issuing tribunal had jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1138.    (A) The law of the issuing state governs the nature, extent, amount, and duration of current payments and other obligations of support and the payment of any arrearage of a registered support order.

(B) In a proceeding for any arrearage the statute of limitations under the laws of this State or of the issuing state, whichever is longer, applies.

Section 20-7-1140.    (A) The registering tribunal shall notify the nonregistering party of the registration of a support order or income withholding order issued in another state. Notice must be given by first-class, certified, or registered mail or by any means of personal service authorized by the law of this State. The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the registered order and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order.

(B) The notice must inform the nonregistering party:

(1) that a motion to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order must be filed within twenty days after the date of mailing or personal service of the notice;

(2) of the amount of alleged arrearage, if any;

(3) that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner will result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and any alleged arrearage and precludes further contest of that order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted; and

(4) that a registered order is enforceable as of the date of registration in the same manner as a support order issued by a tribunal of this State.

(C) Upon registration of an income withholding order for purposes of enforcement, the registering tribunal shall notify the obligor's employer pursuant to the income withholding law of this State.

Section 20-7-1142.    (A) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order must request a hearing within twenty days after the date of mailing or personal service of notice of the registration. The nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration or to contest any aspect of the registered order, the remedies being sought, or the amount of any alleged arrearage pursuant to Section 20-7-1144.

(B) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.

(C) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties by first-class mail of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

Section 20-7-1144.    (A) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered order bears the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:

(1) the issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;

(2) the order was obtained by fraud;

(3) the order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by a later order;

(4) the issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;

(5) there is a defense under the law of this State to the enforcement remedy sought;

(6) full or partial payment has been made; or

(7) the statute of limitations under Section 20-7-1138 precludes enforcement of any arrearage.

(B) If an obligor presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection (A), a tribunal may stay enforcement of the registered order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, or issue other appropriate orders. Any uncontested portion of the registered order may be enforced by all remedies available under the law of this State.

(C) If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (A) to the registration of the order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.

Section 20-7-1145. Renumbered as Section 20-7-1136 at direction of Code Commissioner.

Section 20-7-1146.    Confirmation of a registered order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.

Section 20-7-1148.    A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify or to modify and enforce a child support order issued in another state shall register that order in this State in the same manner as provided in Sections 20-7-1132 through 20-7-1138. A complaint setting forth the grounds for modification with specificity may be filed at the same time as a request for registration and enforcement or at a later time.

Section 20-7-1150.    After a child support order of another state is registered for purposes of modification, it may be enforced by a tribunal of this State in the same manner as a support order issued by the tribunal, but the registered order may be modified only if the requirements of Section 20-7-1152 are met.

Section 20-7-1152.    (A) After a child support order of another state has been registered in this State, unless Section 20-7-1154 applies, the responding tribunal of this State may modify that order only if, after notice and hearing, it finds that:

(1) these requirements are met:

(a) the child, the individual obligee, and the obligor do not reside in the issuing state;

(b) a plaintiff who is a nonresident of this State seeks modification; and

(c) the defendant is subject to the personal jurisdiction of a tribunal of this State; or

(2) an individual party or the child is subject to the personal jurisdiction of a tribunal of this State and all the parties have filed a written consent in the issuing tribunal providing that a tribunal of this State may modify the support order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the order. However, if the issuing state is a foreign jurisdiction which has not enacted this subarticle, the written consent of the individual party residing in this State is not required for the tribunal to assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order.

(B) Modification of a registered child support order is subject to the same requirements, procedures, and defenses that apply to the modification of an order issued by a tribunal of this State and may be enforced and satisfied in the same manner.

(C) A tribunal of this State may not modify any aspect of a child support order that may not be modified under the law of the issuing state. If two or more tribunals have issued child support orders for the same obligor and child, the order that is controlling and must be recognized under Section 20-7-1010 establishes the nonmodifiable aspects of the support order.

(D) On issuance of an order modifying a child support order issued in another state, a tribunal of this State becomes the tribunal of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1153.    A tribunal of this State shall recognize a modification of its earlier child support order by a tribunal of another state which assumed jurisdiction pursuant to a law substantially similar to this subarticle and upon request, except as otherwise provided in this subarticle, shall:

(1) enforce any arrearage and provide other appropriate relief for violations of the modified order which occurred before the effective date of the modification;

(2) enforce the modified order to the extent it was not superseded by the modification; and

(3) recognize the modifying order of the other state, upon registration, for the purpose of enforcement.

Section 20-7-1154.    (A) If all of the individual parties reside in this State and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of this State has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state's child support order in a proceeding to register that order.

(B) A tribunal of this State exercising jurisdiction as provided in this section shall apply Sections 20-7-965 through 20-7-1020 and Sections 20-7-1132 through 20-7-1154 to the enforcement or modification proceeding. Sections 20-7-1025 through 20-7-1130 and Sections 20-7-1156 through 20-7-1162 do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this State.

Section 20-7-1155.    Within thirty days after issuance of a modified child support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal which had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order and in those tribunals in which that party knows the earlier order has been registered. Failure of the party obtaining the order to file a certified copy as required subjects that party to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises; however, that failure has no effect on the validity or enforceability of the modified order of the new tribunal of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1156.    (A) A tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating or responding tribunal in a proceeding brought under this subarticle or substantially similar law to determine that the plaintiff is a parent of a particular child or to determine that a defendant is a parent of that child. The proceeding may be brought without joining the child as a party.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in Section 20-7-1158, a responding tribunal of this State shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this State, including the rules on choice of law, generally applicable in a proceeding to determine parentage.

Section 20-7-1158.    (A) A proceeding to determine parentage under this subarticle is a civil matter to be decided by a preponderance of the evidence.

(B) The family court may, and to the extent otherwise required by law upon request of a party shall, order the child and the alleged mother or alleged father to submit to scientifically accepted testing for parentage.

(C) If a defendant refuses to comply with an order for testing for parentage, a tribunal of this State may resolve the question of parentage against the defendant. If a plaintiff refuses to comply with an order for testing for parentage, the tribunal shall dismiss the proceeding without prejudice.

(D) A verified written report by an expert on parentage testing is prima facie evidence of the truth of the facts asserted in it. If the verified report shows the chain of custody of samples tested, it is competent evidence to establish the chain.

(E) If the results of testing for parentage create a presumption of parentage under the law of this State, upon motion a tribunal of this State, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, shall order the presumed parent to pay temporary child support. A tribunal of this State, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, also may order temporary support if the defendant has signed a verified statement acknowledging parentage or there is other clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is the particular child's parent.

Section 20-7-1160.    (A) For purposes of this section and Section 20-7-1162, "governor" includes an individual performing the functions of governor or the executive authority of a state covered by this subarticle.

(B) The Governor of this State may:

(1) demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in the other state who is charged criminally in this State with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee; or

(2) on the demand by the governor of another state, surrender an individual found in this State who is charged criminally in the other state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee.

(C) A provision for extradition of criminals not inconsistent with this subarticle applies to the demand even if the individual whose surrender is demanded was not in the demanding state when the crime was committed and has not fled from there.

Section 20-7-1162.    (A) Before making demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in this State with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the Governor of this State may require a prosecutor of this State to demonstrate that at least sixty days previously the obligee had initiated proceedings for support under this subarticle or that the proceeding would be of no avail.

(B) If, under this subarticle or a substantially similar law, the governor of another state makes a demand that the Governor of this State surrender an individual charged criminally in that state with having failed to provide for the support of an individual or child to whom a duty of support is owed, the Governor may require a prosecutor to investigate the demand and report whether a proceeding for support has been initiated or would be effective. If it appears that a proceeding would be effective but has not been initiated, the Governor may delay honoring the demand for a reasonable time to permit the initiation of a proceeding.

(C) If a proceeding for support has been initiated and the individual demanded prevails, the Governor may decline to honor the demand. If the plaintiff prevails and the individual whose extradition is demanded is subject to a support order, the Governor may decline to honor the demand if the individual demanded is complying with the support order.

Section 20-7-1164.    This subarticle must be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this subarticle among states enacting it.

Section 20-7-1165. Renumbered as Section 20-7-1144 at direction of Code Commissioner.

Section 20-7-1166.    If a provision of this subarticle or its application to an individual or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this subarticle which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this subarticle are severable.

Section 20-7-1170. Renumbered as Section 20-7-1146 at direction of Code Commissioner.

Section 20-7-960.    This act may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act".

Section 20-7-965.    In this subarticle:

(1)    'Child' means an individual, whether over or under the age of majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a duty of support by the individual's parent or who is or is alleged to be the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent.

(2)    'Child-support order' means a support order for a child, including a child who has attained the age of majority under the law of the issuing state.

(3)    'Duty of support' means an obligation imposed or imposable by law to provide support for a child, spouse, or former spouse, including an unsatisfied obligation to provide support.

(4)    'Home state' means the state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the time of filing of a petition or comparable pleading for support and, if a child is less than six months old, the state in which the child lived from birth with any of them. A period of temporary absence of any of them is counted as part of the six-month or other period.

(5)    'Income' includes earnings or other periodic entitlements to money from any source and any other property subject to withholding for support under the law of this State.

(6)    'Income-withholding order' means an order or other legal process directed to an obligor's employer or other debtor, as provided for in Subarticle 6, to withhold support from the income of the obligor.

(7)    'Initiating state' means a state from which a proceeding is forwarded or in which a proceeding is filed for forwarding to a responding state under this subarticle or a law or procedure substantially similar to this subarticle.

(8)    'Initiating tribunal' means the authorized tribunal in an initiating state.

(9)    'Issuing state' means the state in which a tribunal issues a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.

(10)    'Issuing tribunal' means the tribunal that issues a support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.

(11)    'Law' includes decisional and statutory law and rules and regulations having the force of law.

(12)    'Obligee' means:

(a)    an individual to whom a duty of support is or is alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been issued or a judgment determining parentage has been rendered;

(b)    a state or political subdivision to which the rights under a duty of support or support order have been assigned or which has independent claims based on financial assistance provided to an individual obligee; or

(c)    an individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual's child.

(13)    'Obligor' means an individual, or the estate of a decedent:

(a)    who owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;

(b)    who is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or

(c)    who is liable under a support order.

(14)    'Person' means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, government, governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, public corporation, or any other legal or commercial entity.

(15)    'Record' means information that is inscribed on a tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

(16)    'Register' means to record or file a support order or judgment determining parentage in the appropriate location for the recording or filing of foreign judgments generally or foreign support orders specifically.

(17)    'Registering tribunal' means a tribunal in which a support order is registered.

(18)    'Responding state' means a state in which a proceeding is filed or to which a proceeding is forwarded for filing from an initiating state under this subarticle or a law or procedure substantially similar to this subarticle.

(19)    'Responding tribunal' means the authorized tribunal in a responding state.

(20)    'Spousal-support order' means a support order for a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.

(21)    'State' means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes:

(a)    an Indian tribe; and

(b)    a foreign country or political subdivision that:

(i)     has been declared to be a foreign reciprocating country or political subdivision under federal law;

(ii)    has established a reciprocal arrangement for child support with this State as provided in Section 20-7-1060; or

(iii)    has enacted a law or established procedures for the issuance and enforcement of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under this subarticle.

(22)    'Support enforcement agency' means a public official or agency authorized to seek:

(a)    enforcement of support orders or laws relating to the duty of support;

(b)    establishment or modification of child support;

(c)    determination of parentage;

(d)    location of obligors or their assets; or

(e)    determination of the controlling child-support order.

(23)    'Support order' means a judgment, decree, order, or directive, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued by a tribunal for the benefit of a child, a spouse, or a former spouse, which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages, or reimbursement, and may include related costs and fees, interest, income withholding, attorney's fees, and other relief.

(24)    'Tribunal' means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders or to determine parentage.

Section 20-7-970.    The tribunals of this State are the family court and the support enforcement agency. For the purposes of continuing exclusive jurisdiction under this subarticle, the tribunals of this State have concurrent jurisdiction to establish, modify and enforce child support in cases being administered pursuant to title V-D of the Social Security Act.

Section 20-7-975.    (A)    Remedies provided by this subarticle are cumulative and do not affect the availability of remedies under other law, including the recognition of a support order of a foreign country or political subdivision on the basis of comity.

(B)    This subarticle does not:

(1)    provide the exclusive method of establishing or enforcing a support order under the law of this State; or

(2)    grant a tribunal of this State jurisdiction to render judgment or issue an order relating to child custody or visitation in a proceeding under this subarticle.

Section 20-7-980.    (A)    In a proceeding to establish or enforce a support order or to determine parentage, a tribunal of this State may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if:

(1)    the individual is personally served with notice and a summons within this State;

(2)    the individual submits to the jurisdiction of this State by consent, by entering a general appearance, or by filing a responsive document having the effect of waiving any contest to personal jurisdiction;

(3)    the individual resided with the child in this State;

(4)    the individual resided in this State and provided prenatal expenses or support for the child;

(5)    the child resides in this State as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;

(6)    the individual engaged in sexual intercourse in this State and the child may have been conceived by that act of intercourse;

(7)    the individual asserted parentage in the putative father registry maintained in this State; or

(8)    there is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of this State and the United States for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.

(B)    The bases of personal jurisdiction set forth in subsection (A) or in any other law of this State may not be used to acquire personal jurisdiction for a tribunal of the State to modify a child support order of another state unless the requirements of Section 20-7-1152 or 20-7-1155.1 are met.

Section 20-7-985.    Personal jurisdiction acquired by a tribunal of this State in a proceeding under this subarticle or other law of this State relating to a support order continues as long as a tribunal of this State has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify its order or continuing jurisdiction to enforce its order as provided by Sections 20-7-1000, 20-7-1005, and 20-7-1024.

Section 20-7-990.    Under this subarticle, a tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating tribunal to forward proceedings to another State and as a responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state.

Section 20-7-995.    (A)    A tribunal of this State may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another state only if:

(1)    the petition or comparable pleading in this State is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state;

(2)    the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state; and

(3)    if relevant, this State is the home state of the child.

(B)    A tribunal of this State may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state if:

(1)    the petition or comparable pleading in the other state is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in this State for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by this State;

(2)    the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in this State; and

(3)    if relevant, the other state is the home state of the child.

Section 20-7-1000.    (A)    A tribunal of this State that has issued a child-support order consistent with the law of this State has and shall exercise continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify its child-support order if the order is the controlling order and:

(1)    at the time of the filing of a request for modification this State is the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued; or

(2)    even if this State is not the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued, the parties consent in a record or in open court that the tribunal of this State may continue to exercise jurisdiction to modify its order.

(B)    A tribunal of this State that has issued a child-support order consistent with the law of this State may not exercise continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order if:

(1)    all of the parties who are individuals file consent in a record with the tribunal of this State that a tribunal of another state that has jurisdiction over at least one of the parties who is an individual or that is located in the state of residence of the child may modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction; or

(2)    its order is not the controlling order.

(C)    If a tribunal of another state has issued a child-support order pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act or a law substantially similar to that Act which modifies a child-support order of a tribunal of this State, tribunals of this State shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal of the other State.

(D)    A tribunal of this State that lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify a child-support order may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another State to modify a support order issued in that State.

(E)    A temporary support order issued ex parte or pending resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal.

Section 20-7-1005.    (A)    A tribunal of this State that has issued a child-support order consistent with the law of this State may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another State to enforce:

(1)    the order if the order is the controlling order and has not been modified by a tribunal of another state that assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; or

(2)    a money judgment for arrears of support and interest on the order accrued before a determination that an order of another state is the controlling order.

(B)    A tribunal of this State having continuing jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce the order.

Section 20-7-1010.    (A)    If a proceeding is brought under this subarticle and only one tribunal has issued a child-support order, the order of that tribunal controls and must be so recognized.

(B)    If a proceeding is brought under this subarticle, and two or more child-support orders have been issued by tribunals of this State or another State with regard to the same obligor and same child, a tribunal of this State having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and individual obligee shall apply the following rules and by order shall determine which order controls:

(1)    If only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this subarticle, the order of that tribunal controls and must be so recognized.

(2)    If more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this subarticle:

(a)    an order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child controls; but

(b)    if an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued controls.

(3)    if none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this subarticle, the tribunal of this State shall issue a child-support order, which controls.

(C)    If two or more child-support orders have been issued for the same obligor and same child, upon request of a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency, a tribunal of this State having personal jurisdiction over both the obligor and the obligee who is an individual shall determine which order controls under subsection (B). The request may be filed with a registration for enforcement or registration for modification pursuant to Part VI, or may be filed as a separate proceeding.

(D)    A request to determine which is the controlling order must be accompanied by a copy of every child-support order in effect and the applicable record of payments. The requesting party shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.

(E)    The tribunal that issued the controlling order under subsection (A), (B), or (C) has continuing jurisdiction to the extent provided in Section 20-7-1000 or 20-7-1005.

(F)    A tribunal of this State that determines by order which is the controlling order under subsection (B)(1) or (2) or (C), or that issues a new controlling order under subsection (B)(3), shall state in that order:

(1)    the basis upon which the tribunal made its determination;

(2)    the amount of prospective support, if any; and

(3)    the total amount of consolidated arrears and accrued interest, if any, under all of the orders after all payments made are credited as provided by Section 20-7-1020.

(G) Within thirty days after issuance of an order determining which is the controlling order, the party obtaining the order shall file a certified copy of it in each tribunal that issued or registered an earlier order of child support. A party or support enforcement agency obtaining the order that fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.

(H)    An order that has been determined to be the controlling order, or a judgment for consolidated arrears of support and interest, if any, made pursuant to this section must be recognized in proceedings under this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1015.    In responding to registrations or petitions for enforcement of two or more child-support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the same obligor and different individual obligees, at least one of which was issued by a tribunal of another state, a tribunal of this State shall enforce those orders in the same manner as if the orders had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

Section 20-7-1020.    A tribunal of this State shall credit amounts collected for a particular period pursuant to any child-support order against the amounts owed for the same period under any other child-support order for support of the same child issued by a tribunal of this or another state.

Section 20-7-1022.    A tribunal of this State exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident in a proceeding under this subarticle, under other law of this State relating to a support order, or recognizing a support order of a foreign country or political subdivision on the basis of comity may receive evidence from another state pursuant to Section 20-7-1100, communicate with a tribunal of another state pursuant to Section 20-7-1105, and obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state pursuant to Section 20-7-1110. In all other respects, Parts III through VII do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this State.

Section 20-7-1024.    (A) A tribunal of this State issuing a spousal-support order consistent with the law of this State has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the spousal-support order throughout the existence of the support obligation.

(B)    A tribunal of this State may not modify a spousal-support order issued by a tribunal of another state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over that order under the law of that state.

(C)    A tribunal of this state that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal-support order may serve as:

(1)    an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce the spousal-support order issued in this state; or

(2)    a responding tribunal to enforce or modify its own spousal-support order.

Section 20-7-1025.    (A)    Except as otherwise provided in this subarticle, this part applies to all proceedings under this subarticle.

(B)    An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may initiate a proceeding authorized under this subarticle by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.

Section 20-7-1030.    A minor parent, or a guardian or other legal representative of a minor parent, may maintain a proceeding on behalf of or for the benefit of the minor's child.

Section 20-7-1035.    Except as otherwise provided in this subarticle, a responding tribunal of this State shall:

(1)    apply the procedural and substantive law generally applicable to similar proceedings originating in this State and may exercise all powers and provide all remedies available in those proceedings; and

(2)    determine the duty of support and the amount payable in accordance with the law and support guidelines of this State.

Section 20-7-1040.    (A)    Upon the filing of a petition authorized by this subarticle, an initiating tribunal of this State shall forward the petition and its accompanying documents:

(1)    to the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding State; or

(2)    if the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.

(B)    If requested by the responding tribunal, a tribunal of this State shall issue a certificate or other document and make findings required by the law of the responding state. If the responding State is a foreign country or political subdivision, upon request the tribunal shall specify the amount of support sought, convert that amount into the equivalent amount in the foreign currency under applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported, and provide any other documents necessary to satisfy the requirements of the responding state.

Section 20-7-1045.    (A)    When a responding tribunal of this State receives a petition or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to Section 20-7-1025(B), it shall cause the petition or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed.

(B)    A responding tribunal of this State, to the extent not prohibited by other law, may do one or more of the following:

(1)    issue or enforce a support order, modify a child-support order, determine the controlling child-support order, or to determine parentage;

(2)    order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;

(3)    order income withholding;

(4)    determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment;

(5)    enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;

(6)    set aside property for satisfaction of the support order;

(7)    place liens and order execution on the obligor's property;

(8)    order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor's current residential address, telephone number, employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment;

(9)    issue a bench warrant for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the bench warrant in any local and State computer systems for criminal warrants;

(10)    order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;

(11)    award reasonable attorney's fees and other fees and costs; and

(12)    grant any other available remedy.

(C)    A responding tribunal of this State shall include in a support order issued under this subarticle, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based.

(D)    A responding tribunal of this State may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this subarticle upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.

(E)    If a responding tribunal of this State issues an order under this subarticle, the tribunal shall send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.

(F)    If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or judgment or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency, a responding tribunal of this State shall convert the amount stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.

Section 20-7-1050.    If a petition or comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of this State, the tribunal shall forward the pleading and accompanying documents to an appropriate tribunal in this State or another state and notify the petitioner where and when the pleading was sent.

Section 20-7-1055.    (A)    A support enforcement agency of this State, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this subarticle.

(B)    A support enforcement agency of this State that is providing services to the petitioner shall:

(1)    take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal in this State or another state to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;

(2)    request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing;

(3)    make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;

(4)    within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;

(5)    within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and

(6)    notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.

(C)    A support enforcement agency of this State that requests registration of a child-support order in this State for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts:

(1)    to ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or

(2)    if two or more child-support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.

(D)    A support enforcement agency of this State that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.

(E)    A support enforcement agency of this State shall issue or request a tribunal of this State to issue a child-support order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears, and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to Section 20-7-1115 of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act.

(F)    This subarticle does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.

Section 20-7-1060.    (A)    If the Attorney General determines that the support enforcement agency is neglecting or refusing to provide services to an individual, the Attorney General may order the agency to perform its duties under this subarticle or may provide those services directly to the individual.

(B)    The Department of Social Services may determine that a foreign country or political subdivision has established a reciprocal arrangement for child support with this State and take appropriate action for notification of the determination.

Section 20-7-1065.    An individual may employ private counsel to represent the individual in proceedings authorized by this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1070.    (A)    The Department of Social Services is the state information agency under this subarticle.

(B)    The state information agency shall:

(1)    compile and maintain a current list, including addresses, of the tribunals in this State which have jurisdiction under this subarticle and any support enforcement agencies in this State and transmit a copy to the state information agency of every other State;

(2)    maintain a register of names and addresses of tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from other states;

(3)    forward to the appropriate tribunal in the county in this State in which the obligee who is an individual or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is believed to be located, all documents concerning a proceeding under this subarticle received from an initiating tribunal or the state information agency of the initiating state; and

(4)    obtain information concerning the location of the obligor and the obligor's property within this State not exempt from execution, by such means as postal verification and federal or state locator services, examination of telephone directories, requests for the obligor's address from employers, and examination of governmental records, including, to the extent not prohibited by other law, those relating to real property, vital statistics, law enforcement, taxation, motor vehicles, driver's licenses, and social security.

Section 20-7-1075.    (A)    In a proceeding under this subarticle, a petitioner seeking to establish a support order, to determine parentage, or to register and modify a support order of another state must file a petition. Unless otherwise ordered under Section 20-7-1080, the petition or accompanying documents must provide, so far as known, the name, residential address, and social security numbers of the obligor and the obligee or the parent and alleged parent, and the name, sex, residential address, social security number, and date of birth of each child for whose benefit support is sought or whose parentage is to be determined. Unless filed at the time of registration, the petition must be accompanied by a copy of any support order known to have been issued by another tribunal. The petition may include any other information that may assist in locating or identifying the respondent.

(B)    The petition must specify the relief sought. The petition and accompanying documents must conform substantially with the requirements imposed by the forms mandated by federal law for use in cases filed by a support enforcement agency.

Section 20-7-1080.    If a party alleges in an affidavit or a pleading under oath that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be jeopardized by disclosure of specific identifying information, that information must be sealed and may not be disclosed to the other party or the public. After a hearing in which a tribunal takes into consideration the health, safety, or liberty of the party or child, the tribunal may order disclosure of information that the tribunal determines to be in the interest of justice.

Section 20-7-1085.    (A)    The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing fee or other costs.

(B)    If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal may assess against an obligor filing fees, reasonable attorney's fees, other costs, and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee's witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of either the initiating or the responding state, except as provided by other law. Attorney's fees may be taxed as costs, and may be ordered paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney's own name. Payment of support owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs and expenses.

(C)    The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonable attorney's fees if it determines that a hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under Part VI, a hearing is presumed to have been requested primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.

Section 20-7-1090.    (A)    Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding under this subarticle before a responding tribunal, whether in person, by private attorney, or through services provided by the support enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction over the petitioner in another proceeding.

(B)    A petitioner is not amenable to service of civil process while physically present in this State to participate in a proceeding under this subarticle.

(C)    The immunity granted by this section does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to a proceeding under this subarticle committed by a party while physically present in this State to participate in the proceeding.

Section 20-7-1095.    A party whose parentage of a child has been previously determined by or pursuant to law may not plead nonparentage as a defense to a proceeding under this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1100.    (A)    The physical presence of a nonresident party who is an individual in a tribunal of this State is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining parentage.

(B)    An affidavit, a document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, or a document incorporated by reference in any of them, which would not be excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under penalty of perjury by a party or witness residing in another State.

(C)    A copy of the record of child-support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were made.

(D)    Copies of bills for testing for parentage, and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least ten days before trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary.

(E)    Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a tribunal of this State by telephone, telecopier, or other means that do not provide an original record may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.

(F)    In a proceeding under this subarticle, a tribunal of this State shall permit a party or witness residing in another state to be deposed or to testify under penalty of perjury by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location in that state. A tribunal of this State shall cooperate with tribunals of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.

(G)    If a party called to testify at a civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.

(H)    A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this subarticle.

(I)    The defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a proceeding under this subarticle.

(J)    A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, certified as a true copy, is admissible to establish parentage of the child.

Section 20-7-1105.    A tribunal of this State may communicate with a tribunal of another state or foreign country or political subdivision in a record, or by telephone or other means, to obtain information concerning the laws, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding in the other state or foreign country or political subdivision. A tribunal of this State may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal of another state or foreign country or political subdivision.

Section 20-7-1110.    A tribunal of this State may:

(1)    request a tribunal of another state to assist in obtaining discovery; and

(2)    upon request, compel a person over whom it has jurisdiction to respond to a discovery order issued by a tribunal of another state.

Section 20-7-1115.    (A)    A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this State shall disburse promptly any amounts received pursuant to a support order, as directed by the order. The agency or tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.

(B)    If neither the obligor, nor the obligee who is an individual, nor the child resides in this State, upon request from the support enforcement agency of this State or another state, the Department of Social Services or a tribunal of this State shall:

(1)    direct that the support payment be made to the support enforcement agency in the state in which the obligee is receiving services; and

(2)    issue and send to the obligor's employer a conforming income-withholding order or an administrative notice of change of payee, reflecting the redirected payments.

(C)    The support enforcement agency of this State receiving redirected payments from another state pursuant to a law similar to subsection (B) shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of the other state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amount and dates of all payments received.

Section 20-7-1120.    (A)    If a support order entitled to recognition under this subarticle has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this State may issue a support order if:

(1)    the individual seeking the order resides in another state; or

(2)    the support enforcement agency seeking the order is located in another state.

(B)    The tribunal may issue a temporary child-support order if the tribunal determines that such an order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay is:

(1)    a presumed father of the child;

(2)    petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;

(3)    identified as the father of the child through genetic testing;

(4)    an alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing;

(5)    shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child;

(6)    an acknowledged father as provided by law;

(7)    the mother of the child; or

(8)    an individual who has been ordered to pay child support in a previous proceeding and the order has not been reversed or vacated.

(C)    Upon finding, after notice and opportunity to be heard, that an obligor owes a duty of support, the tribunal shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may issue other orders pursuant to Section 20-7-1045.

Section 20-7-1124.    An income-withholding order issued in another state may be sent by or on behalf of the obligee, or by the support enforcement agency, to the person defined as the obligor's employer under subarticle 6 without first filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of this State.

Section 20-7-1125.    (A)    Upon receipt of an income-withholding order, the obligor's employer shall immediately provide a copy of the order to the obligor.

(B)    The employer shall treat an income-withholding order issued in another state which appears regular on its face as if it had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

(C)    Except as otherwise provided in subsection     (D) and Section 20-7-1126, the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order by complying with terms of the order which specify:

(1)    the duration and amount of periodic payments of current child-support, stated as a sum certain;

(2)    the person designated to receive payments and the address to which the payments are to be forwarded;

(3)    medical support, whether in the form of periodic cash payment, stated as a sum certain, or ordering the obligor to provide health insurance coverage for the child under a policy available through the obligor's employment;

(4)    the amount of periodic payments of fees and costs for a support enforcement agency, the issuing tribunal, and the obligee's attorney, stated as sums certain; and

(5)    the amount of periodic payments of arrearages and interest on arrearages, stated as sums certain.

(D)    An employer shall comply with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment for withholding from income with respect to:

(1)    the employer's fee for processing an income-withholding order;

(2)    the maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income; and

(3)    the times within which the employer must implement the withholding order and forward the child-support payment.

Section 20-7-1126.    If an obligor's employer receives two or more income-withholding orders with respect to the earnings of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the terms of the orders if the employer complies with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment to establish the priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for two or more child-support obligees.

Section 20-7-1127.    An employer who complies with an income-withholding order issued in another state in accordance with this part is not subject to civil liability to an individual or agency with regard to the employer's withholding of child support from the obligor's income.

Section 20-7-1128.    An employer who willfully fails to comply with an income-withholding order issued by another state and received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a tribunal of this State.

Section 20-7-1129.    (A)    An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income-withholding order issued in another state and received directly by an employer in this State by registering the order in a tribunal of this State and filing a contest to that order as provided in Part VI, or otherwise contesting the order in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

(B)    The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:

(1)    a support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee;

(2)    each employer that has directly received an income-withholding order relating to the obligor; and

(3)    the person designated to receive payments in the income-withholding order or, if no person is designated, to the obligee.

Section 20-7-1130.    (A)    A party or support enforcement agency seeking to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of another state may send the documents required for registering the order to a support enforcement agency of this State.

(B)    Upon receipt of the documents, the support enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any administrative procedure authorized by the law of this State to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both. If the obligor does not contest administrative enforcement, the order need not be registered. If the obligor contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the order, the support enforcement agency shall register the order pursuant to this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1132.    A support order or an income-withholding order issued by a tribunal of another state may be registered in this State for enforcement.

Section 20-7-1134.    (A)    A support order or income-withholding order of another state may be registered in this State by sending the following records and information to the Department of Social Services:

(1)    a letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting registration and enforcement;

(2)    two copies, including one certified copy, of the order to be registered, including any modification of the order;

(3)    a sworn statement by the person requesting registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;

(4)    the name of the obligor and, if known:

(a)    the obligor's address and social security number;

(b)    the name and address of the obligor's employer and any other source of income of the obligor; and

(c)    a description and the location of property of the obligor in this State not exempt from execution; and

(5)    except as otherwise provided in Section 20-7-1080, the name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the person to whom support payments are to be remitted.

(B)    On receipt of a request for registration, the registering tribunal shall cause the order to be filed as a foreign judgment, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form.

(C)    A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy that must be affirmatively sought under other law of this State may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy sought.

(D)    If two or more orders are in effect, the person requesting registration shall:

(1)    furnish to the tribunal a copy of every support order asserted to be in effect in addition to the documents specified in this section;

(2)    specify the order alleged to be the controlling order, if any; and

(3)    specify the amount of consolidated arrears, if any.

(E)    A request for a determination of which is the controlling order may be filed separately or with a request for registration and enforcement or for registration and modification. The person requesting registration shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.

Section 20-7-1136.    (A)    A support order or income-withholding order issued in another state is registered when the order is filed in the registering tribunal of this State.

(B)    A registered order issued in another state is enforceable in the same manner and is subject to the same procedures as an order issued by a tribunal of this State.

(C)    Except as otherwise provided in this part, a tribunal of this State shall recognize and enforce, but may not modify, a registered order if the issuing tribunal had jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1138.    (A)    Except as otherwise provided in subsection (D), the law of the issuing state governs:

(1)    the nature, extent, amount, and duration of current payments under a registered support order;

(2)    the computation and payment of arrearages and accrual of interest on the arrearages under the support order; and

(3)    the existence and satisfaction of other obligations under the support order.

(B)    In a proceeding for arrears under a registered support order, the statute of limitation of this State or of the issuing state, whichever is longer, applies.

(C)    A responding tribunal of this State shall apply the procedures and remedies of this State to enforce current support and collect arrears and interest due on a support order of another state registered in this State.

(D)    After a tribunal of this or another state determines which is the controlling order and issues an order consolidating arrears, if any, a tribunal of this State shall prospectively apply the law of the state issuing the controlling order, including its law on interest on arrears, on current and future support, and on consolidated arrears.

Section 20-7-1140.    (A)    When a support order or income-withholding order issued in another state is registered, the registering tribunal shall notify the nonregistering party. The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the registered order and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order.

(B)    A notice must inform the nonregistering party:

(1)    that a registered order is enforceable as of the date of registration in the same manner as an order issued by a tribunal of this State;

(2)    that a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order must be requested within twenty days after notice;

(3)    that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner will result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and the alleged arrearages; and

(4)    of the amount of any alleged arrearages.

(C)    If the registering party asserts that two or more orders are in effect, a notice must also:

(1)    identify the two or more orders and the order alleged by the registering person to be the controlling order and the consolidated arrears, if any;

(2)    notify the nonregistering party of the right to a determination of which is the controlling order;

(3)    state that the procedures provided in subsection (B) apply to the determination of which is the controlling order; and

(4)    state that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the order alleged to be the controlling order in a timely manner may result in confirmation that the order is the controlling order.

(D)    Upon registration of an income-withholding order for enforcement, the registering tribunal shall notify the obligor's employer pursuant to subarticle 6.

Section 20-7-1142.    (A)    A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order in this State shall request a hearing within twenty days after notice of the registration. The nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the registered order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages pursuant to Section 20-7-1144.

(B)    If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.

(C)    If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

Section 20-7-1144.    (A)    A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:

(1)    the issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;

(2)    the order was obtained by fraud;

(3)    the order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by a later order;

(4)    the issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;

(5)    there is a defense under the law of this State to the remedy sought;

(6)    full or partial payment has been made;

(7)    the statute of limitation under Section 20-7-1138 precludes enforcement of some or all of the alleged arrearages; or

(8)    the alleged controlling order is not the controlling order.

(B)    If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection (A), a tribunal may stay enforcement of the registered order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered order may be enforced by all remedies available under the law of this State.

(C)    If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (A) to the validity or enforcement of the order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.

Section 20-7-1146.    Confirmation of a registered order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.

Section 20-7-1148.    A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a child-support order issued in another state shall register that order in this State in the same manner provided in Subpart 1 if the order has not been registered. A petition for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for registration, or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for modification.

Section 20-7-1150.    A tribunal of this State may enforce a child-support order of another state registered for purposes of modification, in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this State, but the registered order may be modified only if the requirements of Section 20-7-1152, 20-7-1154 or 20-7-1155.1 have been met.

Section 20-7-1152.    (A)    If Section 20-7-1154 does not apply, except as otherwise provided in Section 20-7-1155.1, upon petition, a tribunal of this State may modify a child-support order issued in another State which is registered in this State if, after notice and hearing, the tribunal finds that:

(1)    the following requirements are met:

(a)    neither the child, nor the obligee who is an individual, nor the obligor resides in the issuing state;

(b)    a petitioner who is a nonresident of this State seeks modification; and

(c)    the respondent is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this State; or

(2)    this State is the state of residence of the child, or a party who is an individual is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal of this State, and all of the parties who are individuals have filed consents in a record in the issuing tribunal for a tribunal of this State to modify the support order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

(B)    Modification of a registered child-support order is subject to the same requirements, procedures, and defenses that apply to the modification of an order issued by a tribunal of this State and the order may be enforced and satisfied in the same manner.

(C)    Except as otherwise provided in Section 20-7-1155.1, a tribunal of this State may not modify any aspect of a child-support order that may not be modified under the law of the issuing state, including the duration of the obligation of support. If two or more tribunals have issued child-support orders for the same obligor and same child, the order that controls and must be so recognized under Section 20-7-1010 establishes the aspects of the support order which are nonmodifiable.

(D)    In a proceeding to modify a child-support order, the law of the state that is determined to have issued the initial controlling order governs the duration of the obligation of support. The obligor's fulfillment of the duty of support established by that order precludes imposition of a further obligation of support by a tribunal of this State.

(E)    On the issuance of an order by a tribunal of this State modifying a child-support order issued in another state, the tribunal of this State becomes the tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1153.    If a child-support order issued by a tribunal of this State is modified by a tribunal of another state which assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, a tribunal of this State:

(1)    may enforce its order that was modified only as to arrears and interest accruing before the modification;

(2)    may provide appropriate relief for violations of its order which occurred before the effective date of the modification; and

(3)    shall recognize the modifying order of the other state, upon registration, for the purpose of enforcement.

Section 20-7-1154.    (A)    If all of the parties who are individuals reside in this State and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of this State has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state's child-support order in a proceeding to register that order.

(B)    A tribunal of this State exercising jurisdiction under this section shall apply the provisions of Parts I and II, this part, and the procedural and substantive law of this State to the proceeding for enforcement or modification. Parts III, IV, V, VII, and VIII do not apply.

Section 20-7-1155.    Within thirty days after issuance of a modified child-support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order, and in each tribunal in which the party knows the earlier order has been registered. A party who obtains the order and fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the modified order of the new tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

Section 20-7-1155.1.    (A)    If a foreign country or political subdivision that is a state will not or may not modify its order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal of this State may assume jurisdiction to modify the child-support order and bind all individuals subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal whether or not the consent to modification of a child-support order otherwise required of the individual pursuant to Section 20-7-1152 has been given or whether the individual seeking modification is a resident of this State or of the foreign country or political subdivision.

(B)    An order issued pursuant to this section is the controlling order.

Section 20-7-1156.    A court of this State authorized to determine parentage of a child may serve as a responding tribunal in a proceeding to determine parentage brought under this subarticle or a law or procedure substantially similar to this subarticle.

Section 20-7-1160.    (A)    For purposes of this article, 'Governor' includes an individual performing the functions of Governor or the executive authority of a state covered by this subarticle.

(B)    The Governor of this State may:

(1)    demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in the other state who is charged criminally in this State with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee; or

(2)    on the demand of the governor of another state, surrender an individual found in this State who is charged criminally in the other state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee.

(C)    A provision for extradition of individuals not inconsistent with this subarticle applies to the demand even if the individual whose surrender is demanded was not in the demanding state when the crime was allegedly committed and has not fled therefrom.

Section 20-7-1162.    (A)    Before making a demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in this State with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the governor of this State may require a prosecutor of this State to demonstrate that at least 60 days previously the obligee had initiated proceedings for support pursuant to this subarticle or that the proceeding would be of no avail.

(B)    If, under this subarticle or a law substantially similar to this subarticle, the Governor of another state makes a demand that the Governor of this State surrender an individual charged criminally in that state with having failed to provide for the support of a child or other individual to whom a duty of support is owed, the governor may require a prosecutor to investigate the demand and report whether a proceeding for support has been initiated or would be effective. If it appears that a proceeding would be effective but has not been initiated, the Governor may delay honoring the demand for a reasonable time to permit the initiation of a proceeding.

(C)    If a proceeding for support has been initiated and the individual whose rendition is demanded prevails, the Governor may decline to honor the demand. If the petitioner prevails and the individual whose rendition is demanded is subject to a support order, the Governor may decline to honor the demand if the individual is complying with the support order.

Section 20-7-1164.    In applying and construing this subarticle, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among States that enact it.

Section 20-7-1166.    If any section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, or word of this subarticle is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such holding shall not affect the constitutionality or validity of the remaining portions of this subarticle, the General Assembly hereby declaring that it would have passed this subarticle, and each and every section, subsection, paragraph, subparagraph, sentence, clause, phrase, and word thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, subparagraphs, sentences, clauses, phrases, or words hereof may be declared to be unconstitutional, invalid, or otherwise ineffective."

SECTION    2.    The repeal or amendment by this act of any law, whether temporary or permanent or civil or criminal, does not affect pending actions, rights, duties, or liabilities founded thereon, or alter, discharge, release or extinguish any penalty, forfeiture, or liability incurred under the repealed or amended law, unless the repealed or amended provision shall so expressly provide. After the effective date of this act, all laws repealed or amended by this act must be taken and treated as remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining any pending or vested right, civil action, special proceeding, criminal prosecution, or appeal existing as of the effective date of this act, and for the enforcement of rights, duties, penalties, forfeitures, and liabilities as they stood under the repealed or amended laws.

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

This web page was last updated on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 2:30 P.M.