Arkansas Code of 1987 (2023) › Title 23 - PUBLIC UTILITIES AND REGULATED INDUSTRIES (§§ 23-1-101 — 23-119-105) › Subtitle 3 - INSURANCE (§§ 23-60-101 — 23-103-417) › Chapter 61 - STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT (§§ 23-61-101 — 23-61-1111) › Subchapter 1 - GENERAL PROVISIONS (§§ 23-61-101 — 23-61-117) › Section 23-61-111 - Enforcement - Foreign decrees - Definitions

(a)
As used in this section and §
23-61-110
:
(1)
"Foreign decree" means any decree or order in equity of a court located in a reciprocal state, including a court of the United States located therein, against any insurer incorporated or authorized to do business in this state; and
(2)
"Reciprocal state" means any state or territory of the United States the laws of which contain procedures substantially similar to those specified in this section for the enforcement of decrees or orders in equity issued by the courts located in other states or territories of the United States against any insurer incorporated or authorized to do business in the state or territory.
(b)
The Insurance Commissioner shall determine which states and territories qualify as reciprocal states and shall maintain at all times an up-to-date list of the states.
(c)
(1)
A copy of any foreign decree authenticated in accordance with the statutes of this state may be filed in the office of the clerk of any circuit court of this state.
(2)
The clerk, upon verifying with the commissioner that the decree or order qualifies as a foreign decree shall treat the foreign decree in the same manner as a decree of a circuit court of this state.
(3)
A foreign decree so filed has the same effect and shall be deemed as a decree of a circuit court of this state. The decree is subject to the same procedures, defenses, and proceedings for reopening, vacating, or staying as a decree of a circuit court of this state and may be enforced or satisfied in like manner.
(d)
(1)
At the time of the filing of the foreign decree, the commissioner shall make and file with the clerk of the court an affidavit setting forth the name and last known post office address of the defendant.
(2)
Promptly upon the filing of the foreign decree and the affidavit, the clerk shall mail notice of the filing of the foreign decree to the defendant at the address given and to the commissioner of this state and shall make a note of the mailing in the docket. In addition, the commissioner may mail a notice of the filing of the foreign decree to the defendant and file proof of mailing with the clerk. Lack of mailing notice of filing by the clerk shall not affect the enforcement proceedings if proof of mailing by the commissioner has been filed.
(3)
No execution or other process for enforcement of a foreign decree filed pursuant to this section shall issue until thirty (30) days after the date the decree is filed.
(e)
(1)
If the defendant shows the circuit court that an appeal from the foreign decree is pending or will be taken, or that a stay of execution has been granted, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign decree until the appeal is concluded, the time for appeal expires, or the stay of execution expires or is vacated, upon proof that the defendant has furnished the security for the satisfaction of the decree required by the state in which it was rendered.
(2)
If the defendant shows the circuit court any ground upon which enforcement of a decree of any circuit court of this state would be stayed, the court shall stay enforcement of the foreign decree for an appropriate period, upon requiring the same security for satisfaction of the decree which is required in this state.
(f)
Any person filing a foreign judgment or decree shall pay to the clerk of the court the fee prescribed in §
21-6-402
. Fees for docketing, transcription, or other enforcement proceedings shall be as provided for judgment or decrees of the circuit court of this state.
Acts 1959, No. 148, § 28; 1979, No. 942, § 1; A.S.A. 1947, § 66-2113; Acts 2001, No. 1604, § 8.