reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
TX Fam Code § 159.317 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter D. Civil Provisions of General Application|Section 159.317. Communications Between Tribunals

Sec. 159.317.  COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN TRIBUNALS.  A tribunal of this state may communicate with a tribunal outside this state in a record or by telephone, electronic mail, or by other means, to obtain information concerning the laws, the legal effect of a judgment, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding.  A tribunal of this state may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal outside this state.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 24, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 28, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.318 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter D. Civil Provisions of General Application|Section 159.318. Assistance With Discovery

Sec. 159.318.  ASSISTANCE WITH DISCOVERY.  A tribunal of this state may:(1)  request a tribunal outside this state to assist in obtaining discovery; and(2)  on request, compel a person over whom the tribunal has jurisdiction to respond to a discovery order issued by a tribunal outside this state.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 29, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.319 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter D. Civil Provisions of General Application|Section 159.319. Receipt and Disbursement of Payments

Sec. 159.319.  RECEIPT AND DISBURSEMENT OF PAYMENTS.  (a)  A support enforcement agency or tribunal of this state shall disburse promptly any amounts received under a support order, as directed by the order.  The agency or tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state or a foreign country a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.(b)  If the obligor, the obligee who is an individual, and the child do not reside in this state, on request from the support enforcement agency of this state or another state, the support enforcement agency of this state or a tribunal of this state shall:(1)  direct that the support payment be made to the support enforcement agency in the state in which the obligee is receiving services;  and(2)  issue and send to the obligor's employer a conforming income-withholding order or an administrative notice of change of payee reflecting the redirected payments.(c)  The support enforcement agency of this state on receiving redirected payments from another state under a law similar to Subsection (b) shall provide to a requesting party or a tribunal of the other state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amount and dates of all payments received.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 25, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 30, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.401 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter E. Establishment of Support Order or Determination of Parentage|Section 159.401. Establishment of Support Order

Sec. 159.401.  ESTABLISHMENT OF SUPPORT ORDER. (a)  If a support order entitled to recognition under this chapter has not been issued, a responding tribunal of this state with personal jurisdiction over the parties may issue a support order if:(1)  the individual seeking the order resides outside this state; or(2)  the support enforcement agency seeking the order is located outside this state.(b)  The tribunal may issue a temporary child support order if the tribunal determines that such an order is appropriate and the individual ordered to pay is:(1)  a presumed father of the child;(2)  petitioning to have his paternity adjudicated;(3)  identified as the father of the child through genetic testing;(4)  an alleged father who has declined to submit to genetic testing;(5)  shown by clear and convincing evidence to be the father of the child;(6)  an acknowledged father as provided by applicable state law;(7)  the mother of the child; or(8)  an individual who has been ordered to pay child support in a previous proceeding and the order has not been reversed or vacated.(c)  On finding, after notice and an opportunity to be heard, that an obligor owes a duty of support, the tribunal shall issue a support order directed to the obligor and may issue other orders under Section 159.305.|Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 26, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 32, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.402 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter E. Establishment of Support Order or Determination of Parentage|Section 159.402. Proceeding to Determine Parentage

Sec. 159.402.  PROCEEDING TO DETERMINE PARENTAGE.  A tribunal of this state authorized to determine parentage of a child may serve as a responding tribunal in a proceeding to determine parentage of a child brought under this chapter or a law or procedure substantially similar to this chapter.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 33, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.501 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.501. Employer's Receipt of Income-Withholding Order of Another State

Sec. 159.501.  EMPLOYER'S RECEIPT OF INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE.  An income-withholding order issued in another state may be sent by or on behalf of the obligee or by the support enforcement agency to the person defined as the obligor's employer under Chapter 158 without first filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of this state.|Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 27, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.|
TX Fam Code § 159.502 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.502. Employer's Compliance With Income-Withholding Order of Another State

Sec. 159.502.  EMPLOYER'S COMPLIANCE WITH INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDER OF ANOTHER STATE.  (a)  On receipt of an income-withholding order, the obligor's employer shall immediately provide a copy of the order to the obligor.(b)  The employer shall treat an income-withholding order issued in another state that appears regular on its face as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this state.(c)  Except as otherwise provided in Subsection (d) and Section 159.503, the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order by complying with terms of the order that specify:(1)  the duration and amount of periodic payments of current child support, stated as a sum certain;(2)  the person designated to receive payments and the address to which the payments are to be forwarded;(3)  medical support and dental support, whether in the form of periodic cash payments, stated as a sum certain, or ordering the obligor to provide health insurance coverage or dental insurance coverage for the child under a policy available through the obligor's employment;(4)  the amount of periodic payments of fees and costs for a support enforcement agency, the issuing tribunal, and the obligee's attorney, stated as sums certain; and(5)  the amount of periodic payments of arrearages and interest on arrearages, stated as sums certain.(d)  An employer shall comply with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment for withholding from income with respect to:(1)  the employer's fee for processing an income-withholding order;(2)  the maximum amount permitted to be withheld from the obligor's income;  and(3)  the times within which the employer must implement the withholding order and forward the child support payment.|Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 28, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 550), Sec. 39, eff. September 1, 2018.|
TX Fam Code § 159.503 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.503. Employer's Compliance With Two or More Income-Withholding Orders

Sec. 159.503.  EMPLOYER'S COMPLIANCE WITH TWO OR MORE INCOME-WITHHOLDING ORDERS.  If an obligor's employer receives two or more income-withholding orders with respect to the earnings of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the terms of the orders if the employer complies with the law of the state of the obligor's principal place of employment to establish the priorities for withholding and allocating income withheld for two or more child support obligees.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 29, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.|
TX Fam Code § 159.504 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.504. Immunity From Civil Liability

Sec. 159.504.  IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY.  An employer who complies with an income-withholding order issued in another state in accordance with this subchapter is not subject to civil liability to an individual or agency with regard to the employer's withholding of child support from the obligor's income.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Fam Code § 159.505 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.505. Penalties for Noncompliance

Sec. 159.505.  PENALTIES FOR NONCOMPLIANCE.  An employer who wilfully fails to comply with an income-withholding order issued by another state and received for enforcement is subject to the same penalties that may be imposed for noncompliance with an order issued by a tribunal of this state.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.|
TX Fam Code § 159.506 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.506. Contest by Obligor

Sec. 159.506.  CONTEST BY OBLIGOR.  (a)  An obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income-withholding order issued in another state and received directly by an employer in this state by registering the order in a tribunal of this state and filing a contest to that order as provided in Subchapter G or otherwise contesting the order in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this state.(b)  The obligor shall give notice of the contest to:(1)  a support enforcement agency providing services to the obligee;(2)  each employer that has directly received an income-withholding order relating to the obligor; and(3)  the person designated to receive payments in the income-withholding order or, if no person is designated, to the obligee.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 30, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 35, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.507 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter F. Enforcement of Support Order Without Registration|Section 159.507. Administrative Enforcement of Orders

Sec. 159.507.  ADMINISTRATIVE ENFORCEMENT OF ORDERS.  (a)  A party or support enforcement agency seeking to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both, issued in another state or a foreign support order may send the documents required for registering the order to a support enforcement agency of this state.(b)  On receipt of the documents, the support enforcement agency, without initially seeking to register the order, shall consider and, if appropriate, use any administrative procedure authorized by the law of this state to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both.  If the obligor does not contest administrative enforcement, the order need not be registered.  If the obligor contests the validity or administrative enforcement of the order, the support enforcement agency shall register the order under this chapter.|Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 607, Sec. 13, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 31, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 36, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.701 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter H. Support Proceeding Under Convention|Section 159.701. Definitions

Sec. 159.701.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:(1)  "Application" means a request under the Convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.(2)  "Central authority" means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign country described in Section 159.102(5)(D) to perform the functions specified in the Convention.(3)  "Convention support order" means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign country described in Section 159.102(5)(D).(4)  "Direct request" means a petition filed by an individual in a tribunal of this state in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States.(5)  "Foreign central authority" means the entity designated by a foreign country described in Section 159.102(5)(D) to perform the functions specified in the Convention.(6)  "Foreign support agreement":(A)  means an agreement for support in a record that:(i)  is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin;(ii)  has been:(a)  formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal; or(b) authenticated by, or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and(iii)  may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal; and(B)  includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the Convention.(7)  "United States central authority" means the secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. |Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 20, Sec. 1, eff. April 20, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 41, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 57, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.702 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter H. Support Proceeding Under Convention|Section 159.702. Applicability

Sec. 159.702.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies only to a support proceeding under the Convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of this subchapter is inconsistent with Subchapters B through G, this subchapter controls.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 58, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.703 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter H. Support Proceeding Under Convention|Section 159.703. Relationship of Office of Attorney General to United States Central Authority

Sec. 159.703.  RELATIONSHIP OF OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL TO UNITED STATES CENTRAL AUTHORITY.  The office of the attorney general of this state is recognized as the agency designated by the United States central authority to perform specific functions under the Convention.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 58, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.704 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter H. Support Proceeding Under Convention|Section 159.704. Initiation by Office of Attorney General of Support Proceeding Under Convention

Sec. 159.704.  INITIATION BY OFFICE OF ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SUPPORT PROCEEDING UNDER CONVENTION.  (a) In a support proceeding under this subchapter, the office of the attorney general of this state shall:(1)  transmit and receive applications; and(2)  initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of this state.(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 this state;(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 159.708(b)(2), (4), or (9);(5)  modification of a support order of a tribunal of this state; 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 this state;(2)  modification of a support order of a tribunal of this state; and(3)  modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.(d)  A tribunal of this state may not require security, bond, or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the Convention.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 58, eff. July 1, 2015.|
TX Fam Code § 159.705 (2021)
2021 Texas Statutes|Family Code|Title 5 - The Parent-Child Relationship and the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Subtitle B - Suits Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship|Chapter 159 - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act|Subchapter H. Support Proceeding Under Convention|Section 159.705. Direct Request

Sec. 159.705.  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 this state applies.(b)  A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a support order or support agreement. In the proceeding, Sections 159.706 through 159.713 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 this state under the same circumstances.(d)  A petitioner filing a direct request is not entitled to assistance from the office of the attorney general.(e)  This subchapter does not prevent the application of laws of this state that provide simplified, more expeditious rules regarding a direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order or foreign support agreement.|Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 368 (H.B. 3538), Sec. 58, eff. July 1, 2015.|