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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?.
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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?
ForeignReciprocatingCountries(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)
ForeignReciprocatingCountries • 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
OCSEWEBSITEInternationalResourceshttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cse/international/index.htmlOCSEWEBSITEInternationalResourceshttp://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’sGuidestoProcessingCaseswithFRCs General instructions Best practice tips Country specific information & forms
InternationalCase Processing Laws • Othercountries do not have UIFSA. • However, countries with reciprocity should have laws that are substantially similar to ours. Practicesandprocedures • Familiarize yourself with the common practices of the other country. • Be willing to explain your state’s common practices to the other country.
InternationalCase 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”
InternationalCase Processing Communication • Use email when possible • Be patient • Language barrier • Time zones and dates (5/1/11 vs 1/5/11) • Formality
InternationalCustomerService • Incomingcases • Provideprompt 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.
InternationalCustomerService • 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.
ThingstoKeepinMind • 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
ThingstoKeepinMind • 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
CONTACTS Your state’s international contact Federal regional program specialist OCSE: ocseinternational@acf.hhs.gov
OtherResources: ERICSA&NCSEAERICSA website: www.ericsa.orgNCSEA website: www.ncsea.org Information for non-FRCs • Overview • Addresses • Bilingual forms • Relevant laws • Helpful links
OtherResources: TheHagueConference The Hague Conference on Private International Law web site: http://www.hcch.net
Contacts Anne Miller Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (202) 401-1467 Anne.miller@acf.hhs.gov Jeanette Savoy Colorado State Office of Child Support Enforcement (303) 866-5352 Jeanette.savoy@state.co.us