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International Child Support Guide: Processes & Best Practices

Learn about handling international child support cases effectively. Discover key differences, resources, laws, communications, and customer service tips to navigate global child support issues successfully.

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International Child Support Guide: Processes & Best Practices

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  1. GOING GLOBAL: INTERNATIONAL CHILD SUPPORT ISSUES Anne Miller Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement Jeanette Savoy Colorado State Office of Child Support Enforcement

  2. International Cases • What do you need to know? • How are these cases different from UIFSA cases? • Where do you find information?

  3. 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)

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. Caseworker’sGuidestoProcessingCaseswithFRCs General instructions Best practice tips Country specific information & forms

  7. 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.

  8. 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”  

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

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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

  13. 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

  14. 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)

  15. 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.

  16. 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

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

  18. OtherResources: ERICSA&NCSEAERICSA website: www.ericsa.orgNCSEA website: www.ncsea.org Information for non-FRCs • Overview • Addresses • Bilingual forms • Relevant laws • Helpful links

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

  20. 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

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