2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS › Part 3: PARENTS AND CHILDREN › Chapter 67: UNIFORM INTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT › Subchapter 3: CIVIL PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION › 19-A §3007. Duties of the department as the support enforcement agency

§3007. Duties of the department as the support enforcement agency
1.  Services to petitioner.
The department, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.
[PL 2009, c. 95, §39 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
2.  Duties.
If the department provides services to the petitioner, the department shall:
A. Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of this State or another state or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;   [PL 2009, c. 95, §40 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
B. Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time and place for a hearing;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
C. Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
D. Within 2 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;   [PL 2003, c. 436, §17 (AMD).]
E. Within 2 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and   [PL 2003, c. 436, §17 (AMD).]
F. Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent can not be obtained.   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 2009, c. 95, §40 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
2-A.  Registration; reasonable efforts.
If the department requests registration of a child support order in this State for enforcement or for modification, the department shall make reasonable efforts:
A. To ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or   [PL 2003, c. 436, §18 (NEW).]
B. If 2 or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.   [PL 2003, c. 436, §18 (NEW).]
[PL 2003, c. 436, §18 (NEW).]
2-B.  Conversion of amounts to dollars.
If the department requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears or judgment stated in a foreign currency, the department shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.
[PL 2003, c. 436, §18 (NEW).]
2-C.  Issuance upon request.
The department shall issue or request a tribunal of this State to issue a child support order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to section 3019.
[PL 2009, c. 95, §41 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
3.  No attorney or fiduciary relationship.
This chapter does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between the department or the attorney for the department and the individual being assisted by the department.
[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 436, §§17,18 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 95, §§39-41 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).