2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 14 - DOMESTIC MATTERS (§§ 14-1-101 — 14-15-119) › DESERTION AND NONSUPPORT (§§ 14-5-101 — 14-7-105) › Article 5 - UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT (§§ 14-5-101 — 14-5-1007) › Part 7 - SUPPORT PROCEEDING UNDER CONVENTION (§§ 14-5-701 — 14-5-713) › Section 14-5-707 - Contest of registered Convention support order

(a)
Except as otherwise provided in this part 7, sections
14-5-605
through
14-5-608
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 thirty 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 sixty 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
14-5-708
. The contesting party bears the burden of proof.
(e)
In a contest of a registered Convention support order, a tribunal of this state:
(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 this state 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.
Added by 2015 Ch. 173,§ 32, eff. 7/1/2015.
L. 2015: Entire part R&RE, (HB 15-1198), ch. 173, p. 565, § 32, effective July 1.
COMMENT
Subsection (a) states the general rule that a contest of a registration is generally governed by Sections 605 through 608,
supra
. Subsection (b), however, establishes separate, longer time frames to contest the registration of a Convention support order than for filing a contest as established in Section 605. If notice of contest is to be given in the United States, the time difference is relatively modest, i.e., 30 days instead of 20. A more significant difference is created for out-of-country notice, i.e., 60 days instead of 20. Arguably this takes into account that providing notice to a party in a foreign country may take longer than ordinarily expected. In any event, the longer time frames are specifically required in connection with a Convention order. Note that while the principle may always be true that notice to a party situated in a foreign country may take longer, the additional times for notice apply only to an order subject to the Convention.
Subsections (c)-(g) transform Convention language into UIFSA terminology. Subsection (g), which prohibits a stay in enforcement pending a challenge or appeal except in exceptional circumstances, is another substantive provision required by the Convention. It does not apply in non-Convention cases, in which domestic law determines whether a stay of enforcement should be granted pending an appeal or other challenge.
Convention source:
art. 23. Procedure on an application for recognition and enforcement; art. 27. Findings of fact; art. 28. No review of the merits.
Related to Convention:
art. 20. Bases for recognition and enforcement; art. 21. Severability and partial recognition and enforcement; art. 23. Procedure on an application for recognition and enforcement; art. 27. Findings of fact; art. 28. No review of the merits.