A Practical Guide to UIFSA

The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) is the only truly uniform act in family law. Because it is a federally mandated state statute and has recently been revised, all states have the same Act. All U.S. states and territories have adopted the 2008 version. [...]the passage of this current version of UIFSA, there were three prior versions: 1992, 1996, and 2001. [...]a "support order" is defined as a j udgment, decree, order, decision, or directive, whether temporary, final, or subject to modification, issued in a state or foreign country for the benefit of a child, a spouse, or a former spouse, which provides for monetary support, health care, arrearages, retroactive support, or reimbursement for financial assistance provided to an individual obligee in place of child support. [...]child custody jurisdiction is almost universally controlled by the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which follows the child's location with only some regard to the location of the parents once all have vacated the last state in which a child custody order was issued. The definitive case is Kulko v. Superior Court, 436 U.S. 84 (1978), which mandates personal jurisdiction over the obligor for issuance of support orders. Because of the ongoing nature of child support, there is a likelihood that these orders will need to change as material changes occur for the obligee, obligor, and the beneficiary. International Application A discussion on the international aspects of the new Act and the associated treaty enacting the Hague Convention on the...