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April 30, 2024 Clouds | 51°F
The 193rd General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Section 7-707: Contest of registered Convention support order

Section 7–707. Contest of registered Convention support order.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this article, sections 6–605 to 6–608, inclusive, apply to a contest of a registered Convention support order.

(b) A party contesting a registered Convention support order shall file a contest not later than 30 days after notice of the registration, but if the contesting party does not reside in the United States, the contest must be filed not later than 60 days after notice of the registration.

(c) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the registered Convention support order by the time specified in subsection (b), the order is enforceable.

(d) A contest of a registered Convention support order may be based only on grounds set forth in section 7–708. The contesting party bears the burden of proof.

(e) In a contest of a registered Convention support order, a tribunal of the commonwealth:

(1) is bound by the findings of fact on which the foreign tribunal based its jurisdiction; and

(2) may not review the merits of the order.

(f) A tribunal of the commonwealth deciding a contest of a registered Convention support order shall promptly notify the parties of its decision.

(g) A challenge or appeal, if any, does not stay the enforcement of a Convention support order unless there are exceptional circumstances.