How child support money is collected for a parent who lives in one state from a parent who resides in another state may change drastically in some states this year. As of 2015, all 50 states are now required to pass a new law before their legislative sessions end this year if they want to continue to receive certain federal benefits. That new law is The Uniform Interstate Family Security Act. It will allow residents in one state, like here in Maryland, to collect child support payments from a parent in another state.
Without this law, a state will lose its legal right to not only collect but also to distribute child support payments from parents who live out of state. The passing of this law will enable each state to continue to receive federal funds to assist in tracking payments and would allow a state to use the federal tools that allows a state to receive payments from a parent who lives in another jurisdiction. Maryland passed one version of this law in 2008 so this state has already complied with the orders. Its consistency, however, depends upon both states where the parents live to comply.
This updated law will help to bring the United States into compliance with an international treaty which allows for enforcement of child support rulings that cross 80 country borders. If states fail to pass this law, enforcement of interstate child support payments may become nonexistent. Unfortunately, some state legislators feel that, by approving this law, it places them in the position of appearing to agree with the laws of all the other countries involved.
Parents in Maryland that must face securing child support payments from a parent in another state need not be concerned by this new law and the fears that some of the legislators feel may prevent them from allowing it to pass. The law need not be reciprocal from one state to another for this law to be valid in a state. Only the state where one of the parents is living must put this law in place for interstate enforcement. Family law attorneys with an understanding of the new laws and regulations will be able to advise a parent on the best way to proceed.
Source: washingtontimes.com, “Parents, courts contemplate future child support enforcement“, Rebecca Boone, April 19, 2015
