reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209a - Abuse Prevention › Section 11 - Possession, Care and Control of Domesticated Animal Owned by Persons Involved in Certain Protective Orders; Notice to Law Enforcement Upon Finding of Imminent Threat to Household Member or Animal

Section 11. (a) Whenever the court issues a temporary or permanent vacate, stay away, restraining or no contact order or a judgment under section 18, 34B or 34C of chapter 208, or under section 32 of chapter 209, or under section 3, 4 or 5 of this chapter, or under section 15 or 20 of chapter 209C, or under section 3 to 7, inclusive, of chapter 258E or a temporary restraining order or preliminary or permanent injunction relative to a domestic relations, child custody, domestic abuse or abuse prevention proceeding, the court may order the possession, care and control of any domesticated animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by either party or a minor child residing in the household to the plaintiff or petitioner. The court may order the defendant to refrain from abusing, threatening, taking, interfering with, transferring, encumbering, concealing, harming or otherwise disposing of such animal.
(b) A party to any proceeding listed in subsection (a) may petition the court for an order authorized by said subsection (a).
(c) Whenever the court issues a warrant for a violation of a temporary or permanent vacate, stay away, restraining or no contact order or a judgment issued under section 18, 34B or 34C of chapter 208, or under section 32 of chapter 209, or under section 3, 4 or 5 of this chapter, or under section 15 or 20 of chapter 209C, or section 3 to 7, inclusive, of chapter 258E or otherwise becomes aware that an outstanding warrant for such a violation has been issued against a person before the court, the judge may make a finding, based upon the totality of the circumstances, as to whether there exists an imminent threat of bodily injury to any party to such judgment or the petitioner of any such protective order, a member of the petitioner's family or household or to a domesticated animal belonging to the petitioner or to a member of the petitioner's family or household. If the court makes a finding that such an imminent threat of bodily injury to a person or domesticated animal exists, the court shall notify the appropriate law enforcement officials of such finding and the law enforcement officials shall take all necessary actions to execute any such outstanding warrant as soon as is practicable.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words, unless the context requires otherwise, shall have the following meanings:—
''Contestant'', a person who claims a legal right to custody or visitation with respect to a child;
''Custody determination'', any court order, instruction or judgment, whether temporary or final, providing for the custody of or visitation rights with a child; it shall not be deemed to include any order or judgment concerning other child-related matters except to the extent such order of judgment contains a custody determination as above-stated;
''Custody proceeding'', includes proceedings in which a custody determination is one of several issues presented for resolution, such as an action for divorce or separation, guardianship, and care and protection;
''Judgment'' or ''Custody judgment'', a custody determination made in a custody proceeding, and includes an initial judgment and a modification judgment;
''Home state'', the state in which the child immediately preceding the date of commencement of the custody proceeding resided with his parents, a parent, or a person acting as parent, for at least 6 consecutive months, and in the case of a child less than 6 months old the state in which the child lived from birth with any of the persons mentioned. Periods of temporary absence of any of the named persons are counted as part of the 6–month or other period;
''Initial judgment'', the first custody determination concerning a particular child;
''Modification judgment'', a custody determination which modifies or replaces a prior custody determination, whether made by the court which rendered the prior determination or by another court;
''Physical custody'', actual possession and control of a child;
''Person acting as parent'', a person other than a parent who has physical custody of a child and who has either been awarded custody of a child or claims a legal right to custody and includes an authorized social service agency exercising legal or physical custody of a child; and
''Parent'', a biological, foster, or adoptive parent whose parental rights have not previously been terminated;
''State'', any state, territory, or possession of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 4 - Parties; Joinder; Service of Process

Section 4. (a) After examination of the pleadings, affidavits, certified copies of the documentation relative to other custody proceedings and such oral testimony as it may require, the court shall determine the proper parties to the custody proceeding.
(b) During the pendency of the proceeding, the court may require the joinder of additional parties and in that event, the court shall specify that such additional parties be served with process in accordance with section five or six, as applicable, or that they be otherwise notified in such manner as the court shall determine.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 5 - Notice and Opportunity to Be Heard; Proper Parties

Section 5. (a) Reasonable notice in conformity with section six and an opportunity to be heard shall be given to the contestants, to any parent whose parental rights have not been previously terminated, to any person acting as parent, and to any other persons designated proper parties by the court pursuant to section four, provided that in the event a court of the commonwealth assumes jurisdiction pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of section two, then the court may waive such notice requirement for such period as may be allowed under applicable court rules.
(b) Any notice shall include the nature of the action, copies of all pleadings filed with the court, and the statement that any person so notified may apply to the court concerning allocation of the costs of those reasonable and necessary expenses to be incurred in connection with the custody proceeding in accordance with applicable sections of this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 6 - Notice; Nonresidents; Proof of Service

Section 6. (a) Notice to a person in the commonwealth shall be given in accordance with the applicable Massachusetts rules of court or in such other manner as is prescribed by law.
(b) Notice required for the exercise of jurisdiction over a person outside the commonwealth shall be given in accordance with the applicable Massachusetts Rules of Court or statute or, in the discretion of the court, in the manner prescribed by the law of the place in which the service is made concerning service of process in an action of its court of general jurisdiction, provided, however, that in no event shall notice under this paragraph be served, mailed, delivered or last published less than twenty days before any custody determination is made in this state, other than a determination made pursuant to clause (ii) of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) of section two.
(c) Proof of service outside the commonwealth may be made by affidavit of the individual who made the service, in accordance with the applicable law or the Massachusetts rules of court, in accordance with the order pursuant to which the service is made, or, in the discretion of the court, otherwise in accordance with the law of the place in which the service is made.
(d) Notice is not required to be given to a contestant who submits to the jurisdiction of the court.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 8 - Personal Appearance Before Court; Expenses

Section 8. (a) The court may order any party to the proceeding who is in the commonwealth to appear personally before the court. If that party has physical custody of the child the court may order that he or she appear personally with the child.
(b) If a party to the proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside the commonwealth with or without the child, the court may order that the notice given under section five include a statement directing the party to appear personally with or without the child and declaring that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to that party.
(c) If a party to the proceeding who is outside the commonwealth is directed to appear under paragraph (b) or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay to the clerk or register of the court travel and other necessary expenses of the party so appearing and of the child if this is just and proper under the circumstances.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 9 - Testimony of Witnesses Outside State

Section 9. In addition to other procedural devices available to a party, any party to the proceeding or a guardian ad litem or other representative of the child may adduce testimony of witnesses, including parties and the child, by deposition or otherwise, in another state. The court on its own motion may direct that the testimony of a person be taken in another state and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the testimony shall be taken.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 10 - Foreign Courts; Evidentiary Hearings; Transfer of Information; Orders to Appear Within State; Expenses

Section 10. (a) A court of the commonwealth may request the appropriate court of another state to hold a hearing to adduce evidence, to order a party to produce or give evidence under other procedures of that state, or to have an investigation made with respect to the custody of a child involved in proceedings pending in the court of the commonwealth; and to forward to the court of the commonwealth certified copies of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise adduced, or any investigation prepared in compliance with the request. The cost of these services may be assessed against the parties.
(b) A court of the commonwealth may request the appropriate court of another state to order a party to custody proceedings pending in the court of the commonwealth to appear in the proceedings, and if that party has physical custody of the child, to appear with the child. The request may state that travel and other reasonable and necessary expenses of the party and of the child whose appearance is desired may be assessed against another party or may otherwise be paid.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 11 - Custody Proceedings in Foreign Courts; Evidentiary Hearings Within State; Transfer of Information; Orders to Appear in Foreign Court; Expenses

Section 11. (a) Upon request of the court of another state the courts of the commonwealth which are competent to hear custody matters may order a person in the commonwealth to appear at a hearing to adduce evidence or to produce or give evidence under other procedures available in the commonwealth or may order investigations to be made for use in a custody proceeding in another state. A certified copy of the transcript of the record of the hearing or the evidence otherwise adduced and of any investigation shall be forwarded by the clerk or register of the court to the requesting court.
(b) Upon request of the court of another state a competent court of the commonwealth may order a person in the commonwealth to appear alone or with the child in a custody proceeding in another state. The court may condition compliance with the request upon assurance by the other state that travel and other necessary expenses will be advanced or reimbursed.
Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, no child shall be ordered or compelled to appear or attend such proceeding in another state when, after a hearing a judge makes a finding that there is probable cause to believe that such child may be placed in jeopardy or exposed to risk of mental or physical harm by such return to said other state.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 12 - Custody Judgment of Foreign State; Filing Within State; Enforcement of Judgment Within State; Expenses

Section 12. (a) A certified copy of a custody judgment of another state may be filed in the office of the clerk or register of any court of competent jurisdiction in the commonwealth. The clerk or register shall treat the judgment in the same manner as a custody judgment of a court of the commonwealth. A custody judgment so filed has the same effect and shall be enforced in like manner as a custody judgment rendered by a court of the commonwealth.
(b) A person violating a custody judgment of another state the violation of which makes it necessary to enforce the judgment in the commonwealth may be required to pay the reasonable and necessary travel, witness and other expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by the party entitled to custody of the child.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209b - Massachusetts Child Custody Jurisdiction Act › Section 13 - Preservation of Record; Time; Copies

Section 13. In any custody proceeding in the commonwealth the court shall preserve the pleadings, orders and judgments and any record that has been made of its hearings, investigations and other pertinent documents until the child reaches eighteen years of age. Upon appropriate request of the court of another state and receipt of payment therefor the court shall forward to the other court certified copies of any or all of such documents.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 1 - Declaration of Purpose; Definition; Responsibility for Support

Section 1. Children born to parents who are not married to each other shall be entitled to the same rights and protections of the law as all other children. It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a means for such children either to be acknowledged by their parents voluntarily or, on complaint by one or the other of their parents or such other person or agency as is authorized to file a complaint by section five, to have an acknowledgment or adjudication of their paternity, to have an order for their support and to have a declaration relative to their custody or visitation rights ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. For the purpose of this chapter, the term ''child born out of wedlock'' shall refer to any child born to a man and woman who are not married to each other and shall include a child who was conceived and born to parents who are not married to each other but who subsequently intermarry and whose paternity has not been acknowledged by word or deed or whose paternity has not been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction; and a child born to parents who are not married to each other whose paternity has been adjudicated by a court of competent jurisdiction, including an adjudication in a proceeding pursuant to this chapter or prior law. Every person is responsible for the support of his child born out of wedlock from its birth up to the age of eighteen, or, where such child is domiciled in the home of a parent and principally dependent upon said parent for maintenance, to age twenty-one. Each person charged with support under this section shall be required to furnish support according to his financial ability and earning capacity pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 2 - Paternity; Acknowledgment or Adjudication; Statistical Information of Parties; Transmission to Registrar

Section 2. Paternity may be established by filing with the court, the clerk of the city or town where the child was born or the registrar of vital records and statistics an acknowledgment of parentage executed by both parents pursuant to section 11 or pursuant to an action to establish paternity filed pursuant to this chapter; provided, however, that if a judgment or finding of paternity has been issued by a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction under the law of another state or foreign country or if both parents executed a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage in accordance with the law of another state or foreign country, such judgment, finding or voluntary acknowledgment shall be accorded full faith and credit and paternity shall not be relitigated. Upon receipt of an acknowledgment of paternity, the clerk of such city or town shall forward the original acknowledgment to said registrar as provided in chapter 46. Upon receipt of an acknowledgment of parentage or upon an adjudication of paternity under this chapter, the court shall transmit to the registrar of vital records and statistics a certified copy of the acknowledgment or order establishing paternity, together with such statistical information as said registrar may require, upon such form and in such format as designated by said registrar, which shall include the name, residence, date of birth, place of birth and social security number of each of the parties and the child, the sex of the child, and such additional information as the commissioner of public health deems useful for statistical and research purposes. Actions to establish support obligations or for custody or visitation rights may also be filed pursuant to this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 4 - Venue; Service

Section 4. Actions under this chapter to establish paternity, support, custody or visitation of a child shall be filed in the judicial district or county in which the child and 1 of the parents lives and if neither of the parents lives in the same judicial district or county as the child then the complaint shall be filed in the judicial district or county where the child lives; but, if the parents have been parties to a prior action under this chapter and that action has not been dismissed, a subsequent action under this chapter may be filed in the judicial district or county where the earlier action was filed. The fact that the child was conceived, was born, or lives outside the commonwealth does not bar a proceeding to establish paternity pursuant to this chapter. Service of the complaint shall be made in accordance with applicable rules of court. In addition to those otherwise authorized to serve civil process, any officer authorized under the laws of the commonwealth to serve criminal process may serve any process under this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 6 - Presumption of Paternity; Mandatory Joinder

Section 6. (a) In all actions under this chapter a man is presumed to be the father of a child and must be joined as a party if:
(1) he is or has been married to the mother and the child was born during the marriage, or within three hundred days after the marriage was terminated by death, annulment or divorce; or
(2) before the child's birth, he married or attempted to marry the mother by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and the child was born during the attempted marriage or within three hundred days after its termination; or
(3) after the child's birth, he married or attempted to marry the mother by a marriage solemnized in apparent compliance with law, although the attempted marriage is or could be declared invalid, and
(i) he agreed to support the child under a written voluntary promise, or
(ii) he has engaged in any other conduct which can be construed as an acknowledgment of paternity; or
(4) while the child is under the age of majority, he, jointly with the mother, received the child into their home and openly held out the child as their child; or
(5) he has acknowledged paternity in a parental responsibility claim as provided in section four A of chapter two hundred and ten and the mother, having received actual notice thereof, has failed within a reasonable time, to object thereto; or
(6) with respect to a child born before April 13, 1994, with his consent and the consent of the child's mother, he is named as the child's father on the birth certificate as provided in section one of chapter forty-six.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), a husband or former husband shall not be required to be joined as a party if non-paternity of the child has previously been adjudicated in a proceeding between the husband and the mother of such child in a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction.
(c) Notice to a party joined as herein provided shall be sufficient if the summons is mailed to the last known address by a form of mail requiring a receipt and, if actual notice shall not be made as aforesaid, by publishing a copy of the notice once in each of three successive weeks in a newspaper designated by the court.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 7 - Representation in Paternity Actions; Appointment of Counsel; Burden of Proof

Section 7. Actions under this chapter shall be civil actions. The IV–D agency, as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A, may appear on behalf of a plaintiff in an action to establish paternity. In actions in which custody or visitation are contested, court may appoint counsel to represent either party whenever the interests of justice require.
The burden of proof in proceedings under this chapter to establish paternity shall be by clear and convincing evidence.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 8 - Judgment of Paternity; Age of Father; Notice

Section 8. On complaint to establish paternity, the court shall make a judgment establishing or not establishing paternity which shall be determinative for all purposes. Upon default of the defendant or his failure to personally appear, the court shall make a judgment establishing paternity if a showing is made that the complaint was served in accordance with the applicable rules of court and that the mother or putative father submits that sexual intercourse between the parties occurred during the probable period of conception. For good cause shown, the court may set aside an entry of default and, if a judgment has been entered, may likewise set it aside in accordance with rule 60(b) of the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure. The age of the person alleged to be the father or mother in any action under this chapter, including a filing of a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, shall not be a bar to the establishment of paternity or entry of a support order pursuant to section nine. If the child or the mother on behalf of the child is a recipient of public assistance and if the department of transitional assistance, the department of children and families, the division of medical assistance or any other public assistance program has not been made a party as required by section five, the court shall notify the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A of the judgment. If the judgment is at variance with the child's birth certificate, the court shall order that a new birth certificate be issued under section thirteen of chapter forty-six.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 12 - Trial; Exclusion of Public

Section 12. In actions under this chapter, the trial shall be by the court without a jury. In an action to establish paternity, the court shall, upon request of any party, exclude the general public from the room where the trial is held and may admit only persons directly interested in the case, including officers of the court and witnesses.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 13 - Inspection of Documents; Copies; Segregation of Records

Section 13. In an action to establish paternity or in which paternity of a child is an issue, all complaints, pleadings, papers, documents or reports filed in connection therewith, docket entries in the permanent docket and record books shall be segregated and unavailable for inspection only if the judge of the court where such records are kept, for good cause shown, so orders or the person alleged to be the father is adjudicated not to be the father of the child; provided, however, that the child, the child's mother, the person adjudicated to be the father and the department of transitional assistance, the department of children and families, the division of medical assistance or any other public assistance program and the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A, when the child who is or was the subject of the complaint is a recipient of public assistance or the attorney for any of them, and the department of children and families, when the child who is or was the subject of the complaint is within the care and protection of the department of children and families, is the subject of a petition for such care or protection pursuant to chapter 119 or is the subject of a petition to dispense with consent for adoption pursuant to subsection (b) of section 3 of chapter 210, shall have access to and the right to obtain copies of the papers, docket books and judgments in actions pursuant to this chapter. For good cause shown, which may be made ex parte or upon credible evidence, parties may file a complaint without the address, and the court shall impound a party's address by excluding it from the complaint and from all other court documents and testimony, and shall ensure that the address is kept confidential from each other party except the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 14 - Complaints Brought Prior to Birth

Section 14. An action to establish paternity of a child may be instituted during pregnancy of the mother but shall only be filed by the mother or her representative or by the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A on behalf of the mother. In the case of any complaint brought prior to the birth of the child, no final judgment on the issue of paternity shall be made until after the birth of the child; provided, however, that the court may order temporary support or health care coverage.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 19 - Judgment or Temporary Order of Support; Enforcement

Section 19. A judgment of support issued in conclusion of a proceeding under this chapter or a temporary support order issued under this chapter may be enforced with one or more of the following methods:
(1) contempt in accordance with sections thirty-four and thirty-four A of chapter two hundred and fifteen;
(2) execution of the judgment;
(3) attachment of or lien against property;
(4) trustee process, in accordance with the provisions of chapter two hundred and forty-six;
(5) equitable actions to reach and apply for the enforcement of judgments; and
(6) any other civil remedy available for the enforcement of judgments or for the enforcement of support or custody orders entered under chapter two hundred and eight, and two hundred and nine, or received, entered or registered pursuant to chapter two hundred and nine D, including any remedy available under chapter 119A.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 22 - Proceedings Barred Under This Chapter

Section 22. (a) A decree or judgment entered on a petition filed pursuant to sections three or six of chapter two hundred and ten shall be a bar to a proceeding under this chapter.
(b) A proceeding under chapter two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, two hundred and nine, two hundred and seventy-three, or two hundred and nine D shall not be a bar to any proceeding under this chapter. An action brought under this chapter may be consolidated with an action brought under chapters two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, two hundred and nine or two hundred and nine D if both actions are pending in the same department of the trial court.
(c) If an action under chapter two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, or two hundred and nine, is filed after the commencement of proceedings or after a judgment under this chapter, any order or judgment for support of a child issued in the annulment, divorce or separate support proceedings shall supersede any prior order or judgment for support of the same child under this chapter; and any assignment made under this chapter shall be superseded by an assignment made in the divorce, separate support, or annulment proceeding; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the court in such annulment, separate support or divorce proceeding from entering an order or judgment enforcing any previous support order or judgment for support under this chapter which has not been paid, consistent with the provisions of section nine.
(d) No proceeding hereunder shall be barred by a prior finding or adjudication under any repealed sections of chapter two hundred and seventy-three or by the fact that a child was born prior to the effective date of this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 23 - Intermarriage of Parents; Jurisdiction

Section 23. (a) If, after adjudication of paternity or voluntary acknowledgment of parentage, the parents of the child intermarry, any order or judgments of the court relative to support, custody, visitation and restraint on personal liberty shall be null and void, except as to any support arrearage which is owed to the commonwealth as reimbursement for public assistance and which accrued before the date that the parents intermarry and the court shall have no continuing jurisdiction over the parties under this chapter.
(b) If, after proceedings are commenced but before an adjudication of paternity is issued, the parents intermarry, the court may adjudicate paternity hereunder but shall have no other jurisdiction over the child or the parents under this chapter.
(c) An action under this chapter may be commenced after the intermarriage of the parents of the child only to determine paternity.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209c - Children Born Out of Wedlock › Section 24 - Forms

Section 24. The administrative justices of the district, Boston municipal and the probate and family court department of the trial court shall jointly promulgate forms for complaints, agreements and registrations of parentage for use under this chapter, which shall be in such form and language to permit a person to prepare and file such forms pro se.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 1-103 - Tribunals and Support Enforcement Agency of the Commonwealth

Section 1–103. Tribunals and support enforcement agency of the commonwealth.
(a) The probate and family court, the district court and the Boston municipal court departments of the trial court are the tribunals of the commonwealth.
(b) The department of revenue is the support enforcement agency of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 1-104 - Remedies Cumulative

Section 1–104. Remedies cumulative.
(a) Remedies provided by this chapter are cumulative and do not affect the availability of remedies under other law or the recognition of a foreign support order on the basis of comity.
(b) This chapter does not:
(1) provide the exclusive method of establishing or enforcing a support order under the law of the commonwealth; or
(2) grant a tribunal of the commonwealth jurisdiction to render judgment or issue an order relating to child custody or visitation in a proceeding under this chapter.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 1-105 - Application of This Chapter to Resident of Foreign Country and Foreign Support Proceedings

Section 1–105. Application of this chapter to resident of foreign country and foreign support proceeding.
(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth shall apply Articles 1 to 6, inclusive, and, as applicable, Article 7, to a support proceeding involving:
(1) a foreign support order;
(2) a foreign tribunal; or
(3) an obligee, obligor or child residing in a foreign country.
(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth that is requested to recognize and enforce a support order on the basis of comity may apply the procedural and substantive provisions of Articles 1 to 6, inclusive.
(c) Article 7 applies only to a support proceeding under the Convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of Article 7 is inconsistent with Articles 1 to 6, inclusive, Article 7 controls.
{HG4}ARTICLE 2. JURISDICTION
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-201 - Bases for Jurisdiction Over Nonresident

Section 2–201. Bases for jurisdiction over nonresident. (a) In a proceeding to establish or enforce a support order or to determine parentage of a child, a tribunal of the commonwealth may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if:
(1) the individual is personally served with a notice within the commonwealth;
(2) the individual submits to the jurisdiction of the commonwealth by consent in a record, by entering a general appearance or by filing a responsive document having the effect of waiving any contest to personal jurisdiction;
(3) the individual resided with the child in the commonwealth;
(4) the individual resided in the commonwealth and provided prenatal expenses or support for the child;
(5) the child resides in the commonwealth as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;
(6) the individual engaged in sexual intercourse in the commonwealth and the child may have been conceived by that act of intercourse;
(7) the individual asserted parentage of a child under chapter 46 or chapter 209C; or
(8) there is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of the commonwealth and the United States for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.
(b) The bases of personal jurisdiction set forth in subsection (a) or in any other law of the commonwealth may not be used to acquire personal jurisdiction for a tribunal of the commonwealth to modify a child support order of another state unless the requirements of Section 6–611 are met or, in the case of a foreign support order, unless the requirements of Section 6–615 are met.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-202 - Duration of Personal Jurisdiction

Section 2–202. Duration of personal jurisdiction. Personal jurisdiction acquired by a tribunal of the commonwealth in a proceeding under this chapter or other law of the commonwealth relating to a support order continues as long as a tribunal of the commonwealth has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify its order or continuing jurisdiction to enforce its order as provided by sections 2–205, 2–206 and 2–211.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-203 - Initiating and Responding Tribunal of the Commonwealth

Section 2–203. Initiating and responding tribunal of the commonwealth. Under this chapter, a tribunal of the commonwealth may serve as an initiating tribunal to forward proceedings to a tribunal of another state and as a responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state or a foreign country.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-204 - Simultaneous Proceedings

Section 2–204. Simultaneous proceedings.
(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country only if:
(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the commonwealth is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state or the foreign country for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state or the foreign country;
(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state or the foreign country; and
(3) if relevant, the commonwealth is the home state of the child.
(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth may not exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed before a petition or comparable pleading is filed in another state or a foreign country if:
(1) the petition or comparable pleading in the other state or foreign country is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the commonwealth for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the commonwealth;
(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the commonwealth; and
(3) if relevant, the other state or foreign country is the home state of the child.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-205 - Continuing, Exclusive Jurisdiction to Modify Child Support Order

Section 2–205. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify child support order.
(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth that has issued a child support order consistent with the law of the commonwealth has and shall exercise continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify its child support order if the order is the controlling order and:
(1) at the time of the filing of a request for modification the commonwealth is the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued; or
(2) even if the commonwealth is not the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued, the parties consent in a record or in open court that the tribunal of the commonwealth may continue to exercise jurisdiction to modify its order.
(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth that has issued a child support order consistent with the law of the commonwealth may not exercise continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the order if:
(1) all of the parties who are individuals file consent in a record with the tribunal of the commonwealth that a tribunal of another state that has jurisdiction over at least 1 of the parties who is an individual or that is located in the state of residence of the child may modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction; or;
(2) its order is not the controlling order.
(c) If a tribunal of another state has issued a child support order pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act or a law substantially similar to that Act which modifies a child support order of a tribunal of the commonwealth, tribunals of the commonwealth shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal of the other state.
(d) A tribunal of the commonwealth that lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify a child support order may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to modify a support order issued in that state.
(e) A temporary support order issued ex parte or pending resolution of a jurisdictional conflict does not create continuing, exclusive jurisdiction in the issuing tribunal.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-206 - Continuing Jurisdiction to Enforce Child Support Order

Section 2–206. Continuing jurisdiction to enforce child support order.
(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth that has issued a child support order consistent with the law of the commonwealth may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce:
(1) the order if the order is the controlling order and has not been modified by a tribunal of another state that assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act; or
(2) a money judgment for arrears of support and interest on the order accrued before a determination that an order of a tribunal of another state is the controlling order.
(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth having continuing jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce the order.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-208 - Child Support Orders for 2 or More Obligees

Section 2–208. Child support orders for 2 or more obligees. In responding to registrations or petitions for enforcement of 2 or more child support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the same obligor and different individual obligees, at least 1 of which was issued by a tribunal of another state or a foreign country, a tribunal of the commonwealth shall enforce those orders in the same manner as if the orders had been issued by a tribunal of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-209 - Credit for Payments

Section 2–209. Credit for payments. A tribunal of the commonwealth shall credit amounts collected for a particular period pursuant to any child support order against the amounts owed for the same period under any other child support order for support of the same child issued by a tribunal of the commonwealth, another state or a foreign country.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-210 - Application of Chapter to Nonresident Subject to Personal Jurisdiction

Section 2–210. Application of chapter to nonresident subject to personal jurisdiction. A tribunal of the commonwealth exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident in a proceeding under this chapter, under other law of the commonwealth relating to a support order or recognizing a foreign support order may receive evidence from outside the commonwealth pursuant to section 3–316, communicate with a tribunal outside the commonwealth pursuant to section 3–317 and obtain discovery through a tribunal outside the commonwealth pursuant to section 3–318. In all other respects, Articles 3 to 6, inclusive, do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title III - Domestic Relations › Chapter 209d - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act › Article 1 - General Provisions › Section 2-211 - Continuing, Exclusive Jurisdiction to Modify Spousal Support Order

Section 2–211. Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify spousal support order.
(a) A tribunal of the commonwealth issuing a spousal support order consistent with the law of the commonwealth has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction to modify the spousal support order throughout the existence of the support obligation.
(b) A tribunal of the commonwealth may not modify a spousal support order issued by a tribunal of another state or a foreign country having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over that order under the law of that state or foreign country.
(c) A tribunal of the commonwealth that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal support order may serve as:
(1) an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce the spousal support order issued in the commonwealth; or
(2) a responding tribunal to enforce or modify its own spousal support order.
{HG4}ARTICLE 3. CIVIL PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION