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May 13, 2024 Clouds | 65°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part II REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  3. Title III DOMESTIC RELATIONS
  4. Chapter 209D UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT
  5. Article 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
  6. Section 7-705 Direct request

Section 7-705

Section 7-705: Direct request

Section 7–705. Direct request.

(a) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In the proceeding, the law of the commonwealth applies.

(b) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, sections 7–706 to 7–713, inclusive, apply.

(c) In a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a Convention support order or foreign support agreement:

(1) A security, bond or deposit is not required to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses; and

(2) An obligee or obligor that in the issuing country has benefited from free legal assistance is entitled to benefit, at least to the same extent, from any free legal assistance provided for by the law of the commonwealth under the same circumstances.

(d) A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from the department of revenue.

(e) This article does not prevent the application of laws of the commonwealth that provide simplified, more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.