UIFSA Fact Sheet:
UIFSA Fact Sheet
The provisions of the federal Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) were implemented as a result of House Bill 352 being signed into law by Governor George Voinovich on August 28, 1997. Effective January 1, 1998, UIFSA will supersede the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement Of Support Act (URESA) in regulating interstate enforcement of child support.
The intent of UIFSA is to streamline and simplify the processing of interstate child support cases, thus increasing a county’s ability to enforce and collect child support across state lines. The Act does not involve alimony or visitation issues.
Historically, it has been difficult to enforce interstate cases because it has not always been clear which state has responsibility to act. As a result, multiple orders were often created in various states. UIFSA establishes a means of determining which state’s order is controlling. Therefore, all parties are clear as to which state or county is required to take action in the case.
UIFSA provides for:
Only one support order in a case at one time
Eliminates multiple and conflicting orders for the same obligor and the children. UIFSA determines one controlling order even when multiple states are involved and also establishes a registration procedure for modification.
One state and two state proceedings
Authorizes state courts to assert jurisdiction over certain persons outside the state (long arm jurisdiction for paternity and support issues). UIFSA applies to all cases in which the individual seeking an order resides in a different state from the responding party. It provides a one-stop-shop approach, under which either the custodial or non-custodial parent can obtain a support order.
Direct Enforcement
UIFSA allows an income withholding order to be mailed directly to the obligor’s employer in another state which triggers wage withholding unless the obligor contests. Also, an obligee may use any administrative remedy that is otherwise available in an intrastate case in the obligee’s home state.
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ODHS, Office of Communications
December 3, 1997
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http://www.state.oh.us/odhs/facts/1297uifsa.html
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