Source: https://www.pacode.com/secure/data/231/chapter1910/s1910.1.html
Timestamp: 2019-02-17 20:14:12
Document Index: 175886972

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 4321', '§ 1973', '§ 4301', '§ 7101', '§ 3701', '§ 4342', '§ 6101', '§ 4302', '§ 4352', '§ 4601']

231 Pa. Code Rule 1910.1. Scope. Definitions.
A duty of support is imposed by the following statutes: 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 4321 and Section 3 of the Support Law of June 24, 1937, P. L. 2045, 62 P. S. § 1973 (repealed) now Act 43-2005, July 7, 2005, P. L. 196. The procedure under the rules of this chapter implements Chapter 43 of Part V of the Domestic Relations Code, Title 23 of the Consolidated Statutes, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 4301 et seq., relating to support proceedings. The procedure under these rules provides an alternative to the intrastate and interstate procedures under Parts VIII and VIII-A of the Domestic Relations Code, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § § 7101 et seq. and 8101 et seq. For alimony and alimony pendente lite, see Sections 3701 and 3702 of the Divorce Code, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § § 3701, 3702.
Long arm jurisdiction is available in support actions brought pursuant to these rules per 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 4342(c).
(1) an action or proceeding for support based upon a contract or agreement which provides that it may not be enforced by an action in accordance with these rules,
(2) an application for a temporary order of support and other relief pursuant to the Protection from Abuse Act of December 19, 1990, P. L. 1240, No. 206, 23 Pa.C.S. § 6101 et seq. or
Where a contract or agreement provides that it cannot be enforced in accordance with the rules, actions upon a contract or agreement for support are to be heard by the court and not a conference officer or hearing officer under Rules 1910.11 or 1910.12. However, such actions should be expedited and given preference in court listings.
Conference officer, the person who conducts an office conference pursuant to Rule 1910.11.
Hearing officer, the person who conducts a hearing on the record and makes recommendations to the court pursuant to Rule 1910.12.
Overdue support, the amount of delinquent support equal to or greater than one months support obligation which accrues after entry or modification of a support order as the result of obligors nonpayment of that order.
Past due support, the amount of support which accrues prior to entry or modification of a support order as the result of retroactivity of that order. When nonpayment of the order causes overdue support to accrue, any and all amounts of past due support owing under the order shall convert immediately to overdue support and remain as such until paid in full.
Suspend, eliminate the effect of a support order for a period of time.
Terminate, end not only the support order, but the support obligation as well.
Trier of fact, the judge, hearing officer, or conference officer who makes factual determinations.
Vacate, declare a particular support order null and void, as if it were never entered.
Act 1998-127 technically amended Act 1997-58 to define and differentiate between past due and overdue support to clarify that only overdue support constitutes a lien by operation of law against the obligors real or personal property. 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 4302 now defines overdue support as support which is delinquent under a payment schedule established by the court. Past due support is defined as support included in an order of support which has not been paid.
The definitions of past due and overdue support in this rule do not substantively change the legislative definitions. They merely elaborate on them in terms which are more familiar and helpful to the bench and bar. Specifically, past due support consists of the purely retroactive arrearages which accumulate between the date of the filing of the complaint or petition for modification and the date of the hearing and entry of the initial or modified support order. Overdue support refers to the delinquent arrearages which accrue after entry of the order due to the obligors failure to pay support pursuant to the order.
These definitions are important for determining the remedies available for collecting support arrearages. Pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 4352(d), only overdue support (delinquent arrearages) constitutes a lien by operation of law against the obligors property. Conversely, past due support (retroactive arrears) does not operate as a lien against this property as long as the obligor remains current on the support order.
Act 43-2005, July 7, 2005, P. L. 196, repealed the Act of June 24, 1937 (P. L. 2045, No. 397), known as The Support Law and added Chapter 46 to the Domestic Relations Code, 23 Pa.C.S.A. § 4601 et seq. Section 4 of Act 43-2005 states that the addition of Chapter 46 is a continuation of the Act of June 24, 1937 (P. L. 2045, No. 397). Chapter 46 addresses the responsibility of certain family members to maintain indigent relatives, whether or not the indigent person is a public charge. New subdivision (b)(3) clarifies that the support rules and guidelines do not apply to actions brought under Chapter 46 of the Domestic Relations Code.
The provisions of this Rule 1910.1 amended November 7, 1988, effective January 1, 1989, 18 Pa.B. 5326; amended March 30, 1994, effective July 1, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 1953; amended April 15, 1994, effective July 1, 1994, 24 Pa.B. 2296; amended December 8, 1994, effective July 1, 1995, 24 Pa.B. 6399; amended May 31, 2000, effective July 1, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 3155; amended February 2, 2007, effective February 3, 2007, 37 Pa.B. 522. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (324674) and (293831).