ASSEMBLY, No. 261

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Assemblyman BATEMAN

 

 

An Act concerning support proceedings, supplementing Title 2A of the New Jersey Statutes and repealing P.L.1981, c.243 and sections 15 and 16 of P.L.1985, c.278.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

ARTICLE 1

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

    1. As used in this act:

    "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.

    "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.

    "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.

    "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 complaint 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.

    "Income" includes earnings or other periodic entitlements to money from any source and any other property subject to witholding for support under the law of this State.

    "Income-withholding order" means an order or other legal process directed to an obligor's employer or other debtor, as defined by the "New Jersey Support Enforcement Act," P.L.1981, c.417 (C.2A:17-56.7 et seq.) and the "Support Enforcement Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.278 (C.2A:17-56.17 et seq.), to withhold support from the income of the obligor.

    "Initiating state" means a state in which a proceeding under this act or a law substantially similar to this act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act is filed for forwarding to a responding state.

    "Initiating tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in an initiating state.

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

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

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

    "Obligee" means: 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; 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 an individual seeking a judgment determining parentage of the individual's child.

    "Obligor" means an individual, or the estate of a decedent: who owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support; who is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or who is liable under a support order.

    "Register" means to record a support order or judgment determining parentage in the Superior Court.

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

    "Responding state" means a state to which a proceeding is forwarded under this act or a law substantially similar to this act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

    "Responding tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in a responding state.

    "Spousal-support order" means a support order for a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.

    "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 established procedures for issuance and enforcement of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under this act.

    "Support enforcement agency" means a public official or agency authorized to seek: enforcement of support orders or laws relating to the duty of support; establishment or modification of child support; determination of parentage; or to locate obligors or their assets.

    "Support order" means a judgment, decree, or order, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, 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.

    "Tribunal" means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judical entity authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders or to determine parentage.

 

    2. The Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part is the tribunal of this State.

 

    3. Remedies provided by this act are cumulative and do not affect the availability of remedies under other law.

 

ARTICLE 2

JURISDICTION

 

PART A

EXTENDED PERSONAL JURISDICTION

 

    4. In a proceeding to establish, enforce, or modify 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:

    a. the individual is personally served with a summons within this State;

    b. 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;

    c. the individual resided with the child in this State;

    d. the individual resided in this State and provided prenatal expense or support for the child;

    e. the child resides in this State as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;

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

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

 

    5. A tribunal of this State exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident under section 4 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) may apply section 27 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (Pending before the Legislature as this bill) to receive evidence from another state, and section 29 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state. In all other respects, sections 13 through 46 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) 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 act.

 

PART B

PROCEEDINGS INVOLVING TWO OR MORE STATES

 

    6. Under this act, 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.

 

    7. a. A tribunal of this State may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the complaint or comparable pleading is filed after a complaint or comparable pleading is filed in another state only if:

    (1) the complaint 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.

 

    8. a. A tribunal of this State issuing a support order consistent with the law of this State has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a child support order:

    (1) 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; or

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

    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 the order has been modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to a law substantially similar to this act.

    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 act, a tribunal of this State loses its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction with regard to prospective enforcement of the order issued in this State and may only:

    (1) enforce the order that was modified as to amounts accruing before the modification;

    (2) enforce nonmodifiable aspects of that order; and

    (3) provide other appropriate relief for violations of that order which occurred before the effective date of the 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 act.

    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.

    f. A tribunal of this State issuing a support order consistent with the law of this State has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order throughout the existence of the support obligation. 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.

 

    9. a. A tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce or modify a support order issued in that state.

    b. A tribunal of this State having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce or modify the order. If a party subject to the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal no longer resides in the issuing state, in subsequent proceedings the tribunal may apply section 27 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) to receive evidence from another state and section 29 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state.

    c. A tribunal of this State which lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may not serve as a responding tribunal to modify a spousal order of another state.

 

PART C

RECONCILIATION WITH ORDERS OF OTHER STATES

 

    10. a. If a proceeding is brought under this act, and one or more child support orders have been issued in this or another state with regard to an obligor and a 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 tribunal has issued a child support order, the order of that tribunal must be recognized.

    (2) If two or more tribunals have issued child support orders for the same obligor and child, and only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this act, the order of that tribunal must be recognized.

    (3) If two or more tribunals have issued child support orders for the same obligor and child, and more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this act, an order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child must be recognized, but if an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued must be recognized.

    (4) If two or more tribunals have issued child support orders for the same obligor and child, and none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this act, the tribunal of this State may issue a child support order, which must be recognized.

    b. The tribunal that has issued an order recognized under subsection a. of this section is the tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.

 

    11. 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 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 multiple orders had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

 

    12. 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 the tribunal of this State.

 

ARTICLE 3

CIVIL PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

    13. a. Except as otherwise provided in this act, this article applies to all proceedings under this act.

    b. This act provides for the following proceedings:

    (1) establishment of an order for spousal support or child support pursuant to section 31 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill);

    (2) enforcement of a support order and income-withholding order of another state without registration pursuant to sections 32 and 33 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill);

    (3) registration of an order for spousal support or child support of another state for enforcement pursuant to sections 34 through 45 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill);

    (4) modification of an order for child support or spousal support issued by a tribunal of this State pursuant to sections 6 through 9 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill);

    (5) registration of an order for child support of another state for modification pursuant to sections 34 through 45 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill);

    (6) determination of parentage pursuant to section 46 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill); and

    (7) assertion of jurisdiction over nonresidents pursuant to sections 4 and 5 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill).

    c. An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may commence a proceeding authorized under this act by filing a complaint in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a complaint or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.

 

    14. 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.

 

    15. Except as otherwise provided by this act, a responding tribunal of this State:

    a. shall 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

    b. shall determine the duty of support and the amount payable in accordance with the law and support guidelines of this State.

 

    16. Upon the filing of a complaint authorized by this act, an initiating tribunal of this State shall forward three copies of the complaint and its accompanying documents:

    a. to the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding state; or

    b. 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.


    17. a. When a responding tribunal of this State receives a complaint or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to subsection c. of section 13 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill), it shall cause the complaint or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner by first class mail where and when it was filed.

    b. A responding tribunal of this State, 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 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 act, 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 act upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.

    e. If a responding tribunal of this State issues an order under this act, the tribunal shall send a copy of the order by first class mail to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.

 

    18. If a complaint or comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of this State, it shall forward the pleading and accompanying documents to an appropriate tribunal in this State or another state and notify the petitioner by first class mail where and when the pleading was sent.

 

    19. a. A support enforcement agency of this State, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this act.

    b. A support enforcement agency that is providing services, as appropriate, 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 from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice by first class mail to the petitioner;

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

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

    c. This act 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.

 

    20. An individual may employ private counsel to represent the individual in proceedings authorized by this act.

 

    21. a. The Administrative Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts is the State information agency under this act.

    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 act 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 tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from other states;

    (3) forward to the appropriate tribunal in the place in this State in which the individual obligee or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor's property is believed to be located all documents concerning a proceeding under this act 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.

 

    22. a. A petitioner seeking to establish or modify a support order or to determine parentage in a proceeding under this act must verify the complaint. Unless otherwise ordered under section 23 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill), the complaint or accompanying documents must provide, so far as known, the name, residential address, and social security numbers 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. The complaint may include any other information that may assist in locating or identifying the respondent.

    b. The complaint must specify the relief sought. The complaint 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.

 

    23. Upon a finding, which may be made ex parte, 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 any existing order so provides, a tribunal shall order that the address of the child or party or other identifying information not be disclosed in a pleading or other document filed in a proceeding under this act.

 

    24. 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 sections 34 through 45 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill), a hearing is presumed to have been requested primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.


    25. a. Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding 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 act.

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

 

    26. 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 act.

 

    27. a. The physical presence of the petitioner 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 a document incorporated by reference in any of them, not excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given 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. This 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 10 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 writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.

    f. In a proceeding under this act, a tribunal of this State may permit a party or witness residing in another state to be deposed or to testify 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 act.

    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 act.

 

    28. 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 a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding in the other state. A tribunal of this State may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal of another state.

 

    29. A tribunal of this State may:

    a. request a tribunal of another state to assist in obtaining discovery; and

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

 

    30. 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.

 

ARTICLE 4

ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER

 

    31. a. If a support order entitled to recognition under this act 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:

    (1) the respondent has signed a verified statement acknowledging parentage;

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

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

    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 17 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill).

 

ARTICLE 5

DIRECT ENFORCEMENT OF ORDER OF ANOTHER

STATE WITHOUT REGISTRATION

 

    32. a. 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 the "New Jersey Support Enforcement Act," P.L.1981, c.417 (C.2A:17-56.7 et seq.) and the "Support Enforcement Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.278 (C.2A:17-56.17 et seq.) without first filing a complaint or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of this State. Upon receipt of the order, the employer shall:

    (1) 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;

    (2) immediately provide a copy of the order to the obligor; and

    (3) distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order.

    b. An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income-withholding order issued in another state in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this State. Section 37 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) applies to the contest. The obligor shall give notice of the contest to any support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee and to:

    (1) the person or agency designated to receive payments in the income-withholding order; or

    (2) if no person or agency is designated, the obligee.

 

    33. a. A party 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 act.


ARTICLE 6

ENFORCEMENT AND MODIFICATION OF SUPPORT

ORDER AFTER REGISTRATION

 

PART A

REGISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER

 

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

 

    35. 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 appropriate tribunal in this State:

    (1) a letter of transmittal to the tribunal 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 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) 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 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 complaint 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.

 

    36. 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 article, a tribunal of this State shall recognize and enforce, but not modify, a registered order if the issuing tribunal had jurisdiction.

 

    37. 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 arrearages under the order.

    b. In a proceeding for arrearages, the statute of limitation under the laws of this State or of the issuing state, whichever is longer, applies.

 

PART B

CONTEST OF VALIDITY OR ENFORCEMENT

 

    38. a. When a support order or income-withholding order issued in another state is registered, the registering tribunal shall notify the nonregistering party. 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 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 20 days after the date of mailing or personal services of the 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 precludes further contest of that order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted; and

    (4) of the amount of any alleged arrearages.

    c. Upon registration of an income-withholding order for enforcement, the registering tribunal shall notify the obligor's employer pursuant to the "New Jersey Support Enforcement Act," P.L.1981, c.417 (C.2A:17-56.7 et seq.) and the "Support Enforcement Act of 1985," P.L.1985, c.278 (C.2A:17-56.17 et seq.).

 

    39. a. A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order in this State shall request a hearing within 20 days after the date of mailing or personal service of 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 40 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill).

    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.

 

    40. a. A party contesting the validity of 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; or

    (7) the statute of limitation under section 37 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) precludes enforcement of some or all of the arrearages.

    b. If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection a. of this section, 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. of this section to the validity or enforcement of the order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.

 

    41. 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.

 

PART C

REGISTRATION AND MODIFICATION OF

CHILD SUPPORT ORDER

 

    42. 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 sections 34 through 37 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) if the order has not been registered. A complaint for modification may be filed at the same time as a request for registration, or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for modification.

 

    43. 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 44 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Pending before the Legislature as this bill) have been met.

 

    44. a. After a child support order issued in another state has been registered in this State, the responding tribunal of this State may modify that order only if, after notice and hearing, it finds that:

    (1) the following requirements are met:

    (a) the child, the individual obligee, and the obligor do not reside 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) an individual party or the child is subject to the personal jurisdiction of the tribunal and all of the individual 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.

    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. 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.

    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.

    e. Within 30 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 each tribunal in which the party knows that earlier order has been registered.

 

    45. 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 act and, upon request, except as otherwise provided in this act, shall:

    a. enforce the order that was modified only as to amounts accruing before the modification;

    b. enforce only nonmodifiable aspects of that order;

    c. provide other appropriate relief only for violations of that order which occurred before the effective date of the modification; and

    d. recognize the modifying order of the other state, upon registration, for the purpose of enforcement.

 

ARTICLE 7

DETERMINATION OF PARENTAGE

 

    46. a. A tribunal of this State may serve as an initiating or responding tribunal in a proceeding brought under this act or a law substantially similar to this act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act to determine that the petitioner is a parent of a particular child or to determine that a respondent is a parent of that child.

    b. In a proceeding to determine parentage, a responding tribunal of this State shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this State, and the rules of this State on choice of law.

 

ARTICLE 8

INTERSTATE RENDITION

 

    47. a. 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.

    b. A provision for extradition of individuals not inconsistent with this act 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.

 

    48. 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 60 days previously the obligee had initiated proceedings for support pursuant to this act or that the proceeding would be of no avail.

    b. If, under this act or a law substantially similar to this act, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act, 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.

 

ARTICLE 9

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

    49. This act shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this act among states enacting it.

 

    50. This act may be cited as the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act."

 

    51. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

 

    52. P.L.1981, c.243 (C.2A:4-30.24 et seq.) and sections 15 and 16 of P.L.1985, c.278 (C.2A:17-56.18 and 2A:17-56.19) are repealed.

 

    53. This act shall take effect on the 180th day after enactment.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This bill reflects the recommendations proposed by the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA). The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws approved this act in 1992 to respond to Congressional legislation on child support enforcement law. This new law was designed to completely revise the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act of 1968 (RURESA) which was adopted in New Jersey as P.L.1981, c.243 (C.2A:4-30.24 et seq.).

 

    The following is a summary of the provisions of UIFSA:

 

    Article 1 provides:

    ● A definitional section which differs from RURESA primarily in the use of the term "tribunal" for "court" in recognition of the fact that many states have created administrative agencies to establish, enforce, and modify child support.

    ● That the Superior Court, Chancery Division, Family Part is designated as the tribunal of this State.

    ● That the procedures for establishment, enforcement, or modification of support or a determination of parentage under this act do not preclude the application of general State law.

 

    Article 2, Part A asserts what is commonly described as long-arm jurisdiction over a nonresident respondent for purposes of establishing a support order or determining parentage. Part A provides:

    ● The bases for long-arm jurisdiction over a nonresident.

    ● That when long-arm jurisdiction is asserted, the provisions of UIFSA are not applicable, with two exceptions. The exceptions allow the tribunal to apply the special rules of evidence and the rules on discovery which are both set forth in Article 3.

 

    Article 2, Part B tracks the traditional RURESA action involving residents of separate states. In this situation, the initiating state does not assert personal jurisdiction over the nonresident, but instead forwards the case to another, responding state, which is to assert personal jurisdiction over its resident. Part B provides:

    ● For the identification of the roles a tribunal may serve, either as an initiating or a responding tribunal.

    ● A method for the one-order system to eliminate the multiple orders common under RURESA. UIFSA resolves conflict between competing jurisdictional assertions by establishing a priority for the tribunal in the child's home state or if there is no home state, with "first filing."

    ● That the issuing tribunal retains continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the support order except in very narrowly defined circumstances.

    ● That a state that enacts this law recognizes the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of other tribunals over support orders and authorizes the initiation of requests for modification to the issuing state; that a tribunal having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce or modify the order; and that tribunals of the enacting states must adhere to the one-order-at-a-time system.

 

    Article 2, Part C is designed to span the gulf between the one-order system of UIFSA and the multiple order system in place under RURESA. Part C provides:

    ● For a priority scheme for recognition and enforcement of existing multiple orders regarding the same obligor, obligee or obligees, and the same child.

    ● For a method to handle multiple orders involving two or more families of the same obligor by treating all the orders as if they had been issued by a tribunal of this State.

    ● That until the one-order system of UIFSA is in place, it is necessary to mandate credit for actual payments made against all existing orders.

 

    Article 3 provides:

    ● A list of the types of actions authorized by UIFSA.

    ● That a minor parent may maintain an action under UIFSA without the appointment of a guardian ad litem, even if the law of the jurisdiction requires a guardian for an in-state case.

    ● That a tribunal will have the same powers in an action involving interstate parties as it has in an intrastate case, which will insure the efficient processing of interstate support cases.

    ● For the duties of the initiating tribunal which consist of forwarding the required documents.

    ● For the duties of the responding tribunal, including mechanical functions and judicial functions, and for substantive rules applicable to interstate cases.

    ● That a tribunal that receives UIFSA documents in error, forward them to the appropriate tribunal.

    ● For the duties of a support enforcement agency.

    ● For the right of a party to retain private counsel in an action brought under UIFSA.

    ● For the duties of the Director of the Administrative Office of the Courts as the State information agency.

    ● For the basic requirements for the drafting and filing of interstate pleadings.

    ● For confidentiality in the pleadings if there is a serious risk of domestic violence or child abduction.

    ● For fees and costs to be assessed against the obligor.

    ● That the petitioner is not subject to personal jurisdiction by this State in other litigation between the parties due to participation in a UIFSA proceeding; for an immunity from service of process during the time a party is physically present in a state for a UIFSA action; and for the withholding of immunity from civil litigation unrelated to the support action stemming from contemporaneous acts committed by a party while present in the state for the support litigation.

    ● That a parentage decree rendered by another tribunal is not subject to collateral attack in a UIFSA proceeding except on a fundamental constitutional ground.

    ● For special rules on evidence and procedure for interstate support cases including rules to eliminate many potential hearsay problems and rules to encourage tribunals and litigants to take advantage of modern methods of communication.

    ● Authorization for the communication between courts in order to expedite establishment and enforcement of the support order of either this State or of the sister state.

    ● For the facilitation of interstate cooperation in the discovery process.

    ● For the prompt disbursal of any amounts received by a support enforcement agency pursuant to a support order.

 

    Article 4 provides authorization for a tribunal of the responding state to issue temporary and permanent support orders binding on an obligor over whom the tribunal has personal jurisdiction, if no other support order exists and no other tribunal has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the matter.

 

    Article 5 provides:

    ● For the direct recognition by the obligor's employer of a withholding order issued by another state.

    ● Authorization for summary enforcement of a sister state support order through any administrative means available for local orders.

 

    Article 6, Part A expands the procedure for the registration of foreign support orders available under RURESA. Part A provides:

    ● For the registration of the support order in the responding state as the first step to enforcement by a tribunal of that state.

    ● For an outline of the mechanics for registration of a sister state order.

    ● That the foreign support order is to be enforced and satisfied in the same manner as if it had been issued by a tribunal of the registering state; however, the order to be enforced remains an order of the issuing state and any request for relief that requires application of the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the issuing tribunal must be sought in the issuing forum.

    ● Situations in which local law is inapplicable.

 

    Article 6, Part B provides procedures for the nonregistering party to contest registration of an order, either because the order is allegedly invalid, superseded, or no longer in effect, or because the enforcement remedy being sought is opposed by the nonregistering party. Part B specifically provides:

    ● That the nonregistering party must be fully informed of the effect of registration. After such notice is given, absent a successful contest by the nonregistering party, the order will be confirmed and future contest will be precluded.

    ● For the procedure to contest validity or enforcement of a registered order.

    ● That the burden of proving the enumerated defenses to registration of a support order is placed on the nonregistering party.

    ● For the confirmation of a support order which validates both the terms of the order and the asserted arrearages.

    Article 6, Part C deals with situations in which it is necessary for a registering state to modify the existing child support order of another state. Part C provides:

    ● That a petitioner wishing to register a support order of another state for purposes of modification must conform to the general requirements for pleadings and the procedures for registration set forth in the bill.

    ● That an order registered for purposes of modification may be enforced in the same manner as an order registered for purposes of enforcement.

    ● That this State's tribunal may modify a foreign support order if specific factual preconditions are found.

    ● For the recognition by the original issuing state of a modified order by a tribunal of another state which assumed jurisdiction pursuant to law.

 

    Article 7 provides for authorization of a "pure" parentage action in the interstate context.

 

    Article 8 provides:

    ● For interstate rendition of an individual who is charged criminally with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee.

    ● Conditions that a governor may implement before making the demand for an individual's surrender or before honoring this type of demand.

 

    Article 9 provides:

    ● That this uniform act should be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose.

    ● For the title of the uniform act.

    ● A severability provision.

    ● For the repeal of the RURESA, P.L.1981, c.243 (C.2A:4-30.24 et seq.), and sections 15 and 16 of P.L.1985, c.278 (C.2A:17-56.18 and 2A:17-56.19), which are also applicable to interstate enforcement of support orders.


 

Designated the "Uniform Interstate Family Support Act."