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GOING GLOBAL: INTERNATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES

Anne Miller Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement

Jeanette Savoy Colorado State Office of Child Support Enforcement

International Cases

• What do you need to know?

• How are these cases different from UIFSA cases?

• Where do you find information?

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Foreign Reciprocating

Countries(FRC)

• Federal arrangements under 42 U.S.C. 659a• Minimum requirements

• Establish paternity• Establish and enforce support• Collection and distribution of support

payments• No cost• Central Authority

• State agreements under 42 U.S.C. 659A(d) and UIFSA Section 308 (UIFSA 2001)

Foreign Reciprocating

Countries• Australia• Czech Republic• El Salvador• Finland• Hungary• Ireland• Israel• Netherlands• Norway• Poland• Portugal• Slovak Republic• Switzerland• United Kingdom

Canadian Provinces• Alberta• British Columbia• Manitoba• New Brunswick• Newfoundland/Labrador• Northwest Territories• Nova Scotia• Nunavut• Ontario• Saskatchewan• Yukon

OCSE WEBSITEInternational Resources

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/international/index.html

• FRC contact information• Links to FRC web sites• Copies of FRC agreements• OCSE international issuances• Caseworker’s Guide to Processing Cases with

Foreign Reciprocating Countries

Caseworker’s Guides to

Processing Cases with FRCs

• General instructions• Best practice tips• Country specific information & forms

International Case Processing

Laws• Other countries do not have UIFSA.• However, countries with reciprocity should have

laws that are substantially similar to ours.Practices and procedures • Familiarize yourself with the common practices of

the other country.• Be willing to explain your state’s common

practices to the other country.

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International Case Processing

• Out-going – Use the federal forms– Check Caseworker’s Guide to Processing Cases

with Foreign Reciprocating Countries

• Incoming– International forms– Information that is “close enough”

International Case Processing

Communication• Use email when possible• Be patient• Language barrier• Time zones and dates (5/1/11 vs 1/5/11)• Formality

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International Customer Service

• Incoming cases– Provide prompt service &responses.

• Out-going cases– On initial referrals, contact the foreign

jurisdiction within 30-60 days.– Continue with status requests at appropriate

intervals.– Contact appropriate state and/or federal OCSE

staff where such contact has failed.

International Customer Service

• Send all correspondence to the agency, not to the party.

• The party in your state should contact the appropriate office in your state.

• The party in the other country should contact their child support agency, not your office.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Foreign currency: Oanda.com, XE.com, x-rates.com

• Extra costs (translations, etc.)• Telephonic Testimony (limited option)• Age of emancipation – set age vs. self supporting• Administrative vs. judicial actions

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Things to Keep in Mind

• System limitations• Enforcement limitations• Modification of another country’s order• Medical Support (dollar amount in lieu of

insurance)• “New” countries due to the Hague

Other Things to Think About

• One-state interjurisdictional cases: outgoing– Long-arm– Assets within the U.S

• Direct application international cases: incoming

• Limited services– Quick Locates– Service of process (at no cost)

Other Things to Think About

• Determination of controlling order• What do you do if a foreign country

improperly “modifies” your order?• Cannot charge costs or fees• Orders from countries with no

reciprocity.

On the Horizon

• Hague Convention On The International Recovery Of Child Support And Other Forms Of Family Maintenance

• Signed by the U.S. Delegation Nov. 23, 2007• Approved by the U.S. Senate Sept. 29, 2010• Waiting for implementing legislation

mandating passage of UIFSA 2008

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CONTACTS

•Your state’s international contact•Federal regional program specialist•OCSE: ocseinternational@acf.hhs.gov

Other Resources:

ERICSA & NCSEAERICSA website: www.ericsa.org

NCSEA website: www.ncsea.org Information for non-FRCs

• Overview • Addresses• Bilingual forms• Relevant laws• Helpful links

Other Resources:

The Hague Conference

The Hague Conference on Private International Law web site: http://www.hcch.net

Contacts

Anne MillerFederal Office of Child Support Enforcement

(202) 401-1467Anne.miller@acf.hhs.gov

Jeanette SavoyColorado State Office of Child Support Enforcement

(303) 866-5352Jeanette.savoy@state.co.us