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November 21, 2024 Mist | 46°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 7-704: Initiation by Department of Revenue of support proceeding under Convention

Section 7–704. Initiation by Department of Revenue of support proceeding under Convention.

(a) In a support proceeding under this article, the department of revenue of the commonwealth shall:

(1) transmit and receive applications; and

(2) initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of the commonwealth.

(b) The following support proceedings are available to an obligee under the Convention:

(1) recognition or recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order;

(2) enforcement of a support order issued or recognized in the commonwealth;

(3) establishment of a support order if there is no existing order, including, if necessary, determination of parentage of a child;

(4) establishment of a support order if recognition of a foreign support order is refused under section 7–708(b)(2), (4) or (9);

(5) modification of a support order of a tribunal of the commonwealth; and

(6) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(c) The following support proceedings are available under the Convention to an obligor against which there is an existing support order:

(1) recognition of an order suspending or limiting enforcement of an existing support order of a tribunal of the commonwealth;

(2) modification of a support order of a tribunal of the commonwealth; and

(3) modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(d) A tribunal of the commonwealth may not require security, bond or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the Convention.