2008 Amendments to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act ...

information concerning the laws, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal,
and the status of a proceeding in the other State or foreign country or political subdivision. A
tribunal of this State state may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal of
another outside this State state or foreign country or political subdivision.
Comment
This section explicitly authorizes a state tribunal to communicate with a tribunal of
another state or in a foreign nation. It was derived from UCCJA § 7(d) authorizing such
communications to facilitate a fully informed decision. The amendment in UIFSA (2008) not
only expands the authorization to worldwide scope, i.e., “outside this state,” but specifically adds
email to the select modes of communication. Broad cooperation by tribunals is strongly
encouraged in order to expedite establishment and enforcement of a support order. American
judges are very familiar with this procedure. It remains to be seen whether overseas
communication between judges will be received with similar cooperation.
and
SECTION 318. ASSISTANCE WITH DISCOVERY. A tribunal of this state may:
(1) request a tribunal of another outside this State state to assist in obtaining discovery;
(2) upon request, compel a person over whom which it has jurisdiction to respond to a
discovery order issued by a tribunal of another outside this State state.
Comment
This section takes a logical step to facilitate interstate and international cooperation by
enlisting the power of the forum to assist a tribunal of another state or country with the discovery
process. The grant of authority is quite broad, enabling the tribunal of the enacting state to
fashion its remedies to facilitate discovery consistent with local practice.
SECTION 319. RECEIPT AND DISBURSEMENT OF PAYMENTS.
(a) A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this State state shall disburse promptly
any amounts received pursuant to a support order, as directed by the order. The agency or
tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another State state or a foreign country a
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