reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25 - Special Child Support Act (§§ 501 — 530) › § 530 - Penalties; administrative fines

(a) Any person who intentionally discloses, publishes, abuses or instigates the use of any information obtained pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall incur a misdemeanor. Any employee or officer who due to negligence, action or omission discloses, offers or publishes any confidential information shall be subject to the corresponding disciplinary action.
(b) Any violation of this chapter, or to the regulations adopted hereunder and for which no express penalty has been provided, shall constitute a misdemeanor. The court shall also retain the authority to impose civil or criminal contempt charges for noncompliance with the orders of the court, the Administrator or the Administrative Judge.
(c) The Administrator or Administrative Judge may impose fines up to a maximum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), compensations, interest, surcharges, expenses, costs, fees, or penalties for violations to the provisions in this chapter, the laws administered by the Administration or the regulations or orders issued by the Administrator or the Administrative Judge, and through a petition to the court, to bring civil or criminal contempt charges.
History —Dec. 30, 1986, No. 5, p. 887, added as art. VII, § 33 on Aug. 17, 1994, No. 86, § 37; renumbered as § 34 and amended on Dec. 18, 1997, No. 169, §§ 27, 28; Aug. 1, 2003, No. 178, § 34; Sept. 15, 2004, No. 299, § 1.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › §§ 541—541b - Repealed. Act July 2, 2015, No. 103, § 904, eff. July 2, 2015

History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 1.101; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 541a - State tribunal [Repealed]

History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 1.102; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 541b - Cumulative remedies [Repealed]

History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 1.103; Repealed. Act.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542 - Bases for jurisdiction over nonresident

In a proceeding to establish, enforce, or modify a support order or to determine parentage, a tribunal of Puerto Rico may exercise personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the individual’s guardian or conservator if:
(1) The individual is personally served within Puerto Rico;
(2) the individual submits to the jurisdiction of Puerto Rico by consent, 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 Puerto Rico;
(4) the individual resided in Puerto Rico and provided prenatal expenses or support for the child;
(5) the child resides in Puerto Rico as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;
(6) the individual engaged in sexual intercourse in Puerto Rico and the child may have been conceived by that act of intercourse;
(7) the individual asserted parentage in the putative father registry maintained in Puerto Rico by the appropriate agency, or
(8) there is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of Puerto Rico and the United States for the exercise of personal jurisdiction.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.201.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542a - Procedure when exercising jurisdiction over nonresident

A tribunal of Puerto Rico exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident under § 542 of this title may apply § 543o of this title to receive evidence from another state, and § 543q of this title to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state. In all other respects, §§ 543–548 of this title do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of Puerto Rico, including the rules on choice of law other than those established by this title.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.202.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542b - Initiating and responding tribunal of state

Under this chapter, a tribunal of Puerto Rico may serve as an initiating tribunal to forward proceedings to another state and as a responding tribunal for proceedings initiated in another state.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.203.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542c - Simultaneous proceedings in another state

(a) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may exercise jurisdiction to establish a support order if the petition or comparable pleading is filed after a pleading is filed in another state only if:
(1) The petition or comparable pleading in Puerto Rico is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in the other state for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by the other state;
(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in the other state, and
(3) if relevant, Puerto Rico is the home state of the child.
(b) A tribunal of Puerto Rico 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 if:
(1) The petition or comparable pleading in the other state is filed before the expiration of the time allowed in Puerto Rico for filing a responsive pleading challenging the exercise of jurisdiction by Puerto Rico;
(2) the contesting party timely challenges the exercise of jurisdiction in Puerto Rico, and
(3) if relevant, the other state is the home state of the child.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.204.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542d - Continuing, exclusive jurisdiction

(a) A tribunal of Puerto Rico issuing a support order consistent with the law of Puerto Rico has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a child-support order:
(1) As long as Puerto Rico remains the residence of the obligor, the individual obligee, or the child for whose benefit the support order is issued; or
(2) until all of the parties who are individuals have filed written consents with the tribunal of Puerto Rico for a tribunal of another state to modify the order and assume continuing, exclusive jurisdiction.
(b) A tribunal of Puerto Rico issuing a child-support order consistent with the law of Puerto Rico may not exercise its continuing jurisdiction to modify the order if the order has been modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter.
(c) If a child-support order of Puerto Rico is modified by a tribunal of another state pursuant to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter, a tribunal of Puerto Rico loses its continuing, exclusive jurisdiction with regard to prospective enforcement of the order issued in Puerto Rico, and may only:
(1) Enforce the order that was modified as to amounts accruing before the modification;
(2) enforce nonmodifiable aspects of that order, and
(3) provide other appropriate relief for violations of that order which occurred before the effective date of the modification.
(d) A tribunal of Puerto Rico shall recognize the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of a tribunal of another state which has issued a child-support order pursuant to this chapter or a law substantially similar to this chapter.
(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.
(f) A tribunal of Puerto Rico issuing a support order consistent with the law of Puerto Rico has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal-support order throughout the existence of the support obligation. A tribunal of Puerto Rico may not modify a spousal-support order issued by a tribunal of another state having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over that order under the law of that state.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.205.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542e - Enforcement and modification of support order by tribunal having continuing jurisdiction

(a) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may serve as an initiating tribunal to request a tribunal of another state to enforce or modify a support order issued in that state.
(b) A tribunal of Puerto Rico having continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a support order may act as a responding tribunal to enforce or modify the order. If a party subject to the continuing, exclusive jurisdiction of the tribunal no longer resides in the issuing state, in subsequent proceedings the tribunal may apply § 543o of this title to receive evidence from another state and § 543q of this title to obtain discovery through a tribunal of another state.
(c) A tribunal of Puerto Rico which lacks continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over a spousal-support order may not serve as a responding tribunal to modify a spousal-support order of another state.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.206.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542f - Recognition of controlling child-support order

(a) If a proceeding is brought under this chapter and only one tribunal has issued a child-support order, the order of that tribunal controls and must be so recognized.
(b) If a proceeding is brought under this chapter, and two or more child-support orders have been issued by tribunals of Puerto Rico or another state with regard to the same obligor and child, a tribunal of Puerto Rico shall apply the following rules in determining which order to recognize for purposes of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction:
(1) If only one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this chapter, the order of that tribunal controls and must be so recognized.
(2) If more than one of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this chapter, an order issued by a tribunal in the current home state of the child controls and must be so recognized, but if an order has not been issued in the current home state of the child, the order most recently issued controls and must be so recognized.
(3) If none of the tribunals would have continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under this chapter, the tribunal of Puerto Rico having jurisdiction over the parties shall issue a child-support order, which controls and must be so recognized.
(c) If two or more child-support orders have been issued for the same obligor and child and if the obligor or the individual obligee resides in Puerto Rico, a party may request a tribunal of Puerto Rico to determine which order controls and must be so recognized under subsection (b) of this section. The request must be accompanied by a certified copy of every support order in effect. The requesting party shall give notice of the request to each party whose rights may be affected by the determination.
(d) The tribunal that issued the controlling order under subsections (a), (b), or (c) of this section is the tribunal that has continuing, exclusive jurisdiction under § 542d of this title.
(e) A tribunal of Puerto Rico which determines by order the identity of the controlling order under subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section or which issues a new controlling order under subsection (b)(3) of this section shall state in that order the basis upon which the tribunal made its determination.
(f) Within thirty (30) days after issuance of an order determining the identity of the controlling order, the party obtaining the order shall file a certified copy of it with each tribunal that issued or registered an earlier order of child support. A party who obtains the order and fails to file a certified copy is subject to appropriate sanctions by a tribunal in which the issue of failure to file arises. The failure to file does not affect the validity or enforceability of the controlling order.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.207.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542g - Multiple child-support orders for two or more obligees

In responding to multiple registrations or petitions for enforcement of two or more child-support orders in effect at the same time with regard to the same obligor and different individual obligees, at least one of which was issued by a tribunal of another state, a tribunal of Puerto Rico shall enforce those orders in the same manner as if the multiple orders had been issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.208.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 542h - Credit for payments

Amounts collected and credited for a particular period pursuant to a support order issued by a tribunal of another state must be credited against the amounts accruing or accrued for the same period under a support order issued by the tribunal of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 2.209.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543 - Proceedings under this chapter

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, this section applies to all proceedings under this chapter.
(b) This chapter provides for the following proceedings:
(1) Establishment of an order for spousal support or child support pursuant to § 544 of this title;
(2) enforcement of a support order and income-withholding order of another state without registration pursuant to §§ 544a–544g of this title;
(3) registration of an order for spousal support or child support of another state for enforcement pursuant to §§ 545–547e of this title;
(4) modification of an order for child support or spousal support issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico pursuant to §§ 542b–542e of this title;
(5) registration of an order for child support of another state for modification pursuant to §§ 545–547e of this title;
(6) determination of parentage pursuant to § 548 of this title, and
(7) assertion of jurisdiction over nonresidents pursuant to §§ 542–542b of this title.
(c) An individual petitioner or a support enforcement agency may commence a proceeding authorized under this chapter by filing a petition in an initiating tribunal for forwarding to a responding tribunal or by filing a petition or a comparable pleading directly in a tribunal of another state which has or can obtain personal jurisdiction over the respondent.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.301.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543a - Action by minor parent

A minor parent, or a guardian or other legal representative of a minor parent, may maintain a proceeding on behalf of or for the benefit of the minor’s child.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.302.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543b - Application of law of state

Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, a responding tribunal of Puerto Rico:
(1) Shall apply the procedural and substantive law, including the rules on choice of law, generally applicable to similar proceedings originating in Puerto Rico and may exercise all powers and provide all remedies available in those proceedings, and
(2) shall determine the duty of support and the amount payable in accordance with the law and support guidelines of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.303.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543c - Duties of initiating tribunal

(a) Upon the filing of a petition authorized by this chapter, an initiating tribunal of Puerto Rico shall forward three (3) copies of the petition and its accompanying documents:
(1) To the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding state, or
(2) if the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.
(b) If a responding state has not enacted this chapter or a law or procedure substantially similar to this chapter, a tribunal of Puerto Rico may issue a certificate or other document and make findings required by the law of the responding state. If the responding state is a foreign jurisdiction, the tribunal may specify the amount of support sought and provide other documents necessary to satisfy the requirements of the responding state.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.304.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543d - Duties and powers of responding tribunal

(a) When a responding tribunal of Puerto Rico receives a petition or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly pursuant to § 543(c) of this title, it shall cause the petition or pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it was filed.
(b) A responding tribunal of Puerto Rico, to the extent otherwise authorized by law, may do one or more of the following:
(1) Issue or enforce a support order, modify a child-support order, or render a judgement to determine parentage;
(2) order an obligor to comply with a support order, specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;
(3) order income withholding;
(4) determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a method of payment;
(5) enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;
(6) set aside property for satisfaction of the support order;
(7) place liens and order execution on the obligor’s property;
(8) order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the obligor’s current residential address, telephone number, employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the place of employment;
(9) issue a (bench warrant; capias) for an obligor who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered by the tribunal and enter the (bench warrant; capias) in any local and state computer systems for criminal warrants;
(10) order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by specified methods;
(11) award reasonable attorney’s fees and other fees and costs, and
(12) grant any other available remedy.
(c) A responding tribunal of Puerto Rico shall include in a support order issued under this chapter, or in the documents accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support order is based.
(d) A responding tribunal of Puerto Rico may not condition the payment of a support order issued under this chapter upon compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.
(e) If a responding tribunal of Puerto Rico issues an order under this chapter, the tribunal shall send a copy of the order to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating tribunal, if any.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.305.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543e - Inappropriate tribunal

If a petition or comparable pleading is received by an inappropriate tribunal of Puerto Rico, it shall forward the pleading and accompanying documents to an appropriate tribunal in Puerto Rico or another state and notify the petitioner where and when the pleading was sent.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.306.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543f - Duties of support enforcement agency

(a) A support enforcement agency of Puerto Rico, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.
(b) A support enforcement agency that is providing services to the petitioner as appropriate shall:
(1) Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal in Puerto Rico or another state to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent;
(2) request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing;
(3) make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties;
(4) within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;
(5) within two (2) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication from the respondent or the respondent’s attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner, and
(6) notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.
(c) This chapter does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.307.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543g - Duty of the Attorney General

If the Attorney General determines that the support enforcement agency is neglecting or refusing to provide services to an individual, the Attorney General may order the agency to perform its duties under this chapter or may provide those services directly to the individual.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.308.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543h - Private counsel

An individual may employ private counsel to represent the individual in proceedings authorized by this chapter.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.309.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543i - Duties of state information agency

(a) The Administration for Child Support is the state information agency under this chapter.
(b) The state information agency shall:
(1) Compile and maintain a current list, including addresses, of the tribunals in Puerto Rico which have jurisdiction under this chapter and any support enforcement agencies in Puerto Rico and transmit a copy to the state information agency of every other state;
(2) maintain a register of tribunals and support enforcement agencies received from other states;
(3) forward to the appropriate tribunal in the place in Puerto Rico in which the individual obligee or the obligor resides, or in which the obligor’s property is believed to be located, all documents concerning a proceeding under this chapter received from an initiating tribunal or the state information agency of the initiating state, and
(4) obtain information concerning the location of the obligor and the obligor’s property within Puerto Rico not exempt from execution, by such means as postal verification and federal or state locator services, examination of telephone directories, requests for the obligor’s address from employers, and examination of governmental records, including, to the extent not prohibited by other law, those relating to real property, vital statistics, law enforcement, taxation, motor vehicles, driver’s licenses, and social security.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.310.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543j - Pleadings and accompanying documents

(a) A petitioner seeking to establish or modify a support order or to determine parentage in a proceeding under this chapter must verify the petition. Unless otherwise ordered under § 543k of this title, the petition or accompanying documents must provide, so far as known, the name, residential address, and social security numbers of the obligor and the obligee, and the name, sex, residential address, social security number, and date of birth of each child for whom support is sought. The petition must be accompanied by a certified copy of any support order in effect. The petition may include any other information that may assist in locating or identifying the respondent.
(b) The petition must specify the relief sought. The petition and accompanying documents must conform substantially with the requirements imposed by the forms mandated by federal law for use in cases filed by a support enforcement agency.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.311.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543k - Nondisclosure of information in exceptional circumstances

Upon a finding, which may be made ex parte, that the health, safety, or liberty of a party or child would be unreasonably put at risk by the disclosure of identifying information, or if an existing order so provides, a tribunal shall order that the address of the child or party or other identifying information not be disclosed in a pleading or other document filed in a proceeding under this chapter.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.312.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543l - Costs and fees

(a) The petitioner may not be required to pay a filing fee or other costs.
(b) If an obligee prevails, a responding tribunal may assess against an obligor filing fees, reasonable attorney’s fees, other costs, and necessary travel and other reasonable expenses incurred by the obligee and the obligee’s witnesses. The tribunal may not assess fees, costs, or expenses against the obligee or the support enforcement agency of either the initiating or the responding state, except as provided by other law. Attorney’s fees may be taxed as costs, and may be ordered paid directly to the attorney, who may enforce the order in the attorney’s own name. Payment of support owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs and expenses.
(c) The tribunal shall order the payment of costs and reasonable attorney’s fees if it determines that a hearing was requested primarily for delay. In a proceeding under §§ 545–547e of this title, a hearing is presumed to have been requested primarily for delay if a registered support order is confirmed or enforced without change.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.313.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543m - Limited immunity of petitioner

(a) Participation by a petitioner in a proceeding before a responding tribunal, whether in person, by private attorney, or through services provided by the support enforcement agency, does not confer personal jurisdiction over the petitioner in another proceeding.
(b) A petitioner is not amenable to service of civil process while physically present in Puerto Rico to participate in a proceeding under this chapter.
(c) The immunity granted by this section does not extend to civil litigation based on acts unrelated to a proceeding under this chapter committed by a party while present in Puerto Rico to participate in the proceeding.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.314.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543n - Nonparentage as defense

A party whose parentage of a child has been previously determined by or pursuant to law may not plead nonparentage as a defense to a proceeding under this chapter.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.315.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543o - Special rules of evidence and procedure

(a) The physical presence of the petitioner in a responding tribunal of Puerto Rico is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgement determining parentage.
(b) A verified petition, affidavit, document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, and a document incorporated by reference in any of them, not excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under oath by a party or witness residing in another state.
(c) A copy of the record of child-support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were made.
(d) Copies of bills for testing for parentage, and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least ten (10) days before trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary.
(e) Documentary evidence transmitted from another state to a tribunal of Puerto Rico by telephone, telecopier, or other means that do not provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(f) In a proceeding under this chapter, a tribunal of Puerto Rico may permit a party or witness residing in another state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location in that state. A tribunal of Puerto Rico shall cooperate with tribunals of other states in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(g) If a party called to testify at a civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.
(h) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this chapter.
(i) The defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a proceeding under this chapter.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.316.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543p - Communications between tribunals

A tribunal of Puerto Rico may communicate with a tribunal of another state in writing, or by telephone or other means, to obtain information concerning the laws of that state, the legal effect of a judgement, decree, or order of that tribunal, and the status of a proceeding in the other state. A tribunal of Puerto Rico may furnish similar information by similar means to a tribunal of another state.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.317.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543q - Assistance with discovery

(1) A tribunal of Puerto Rico may:
(a) Request a tribunal of another state to assist in obtaining discovery, and
(b) upon request, compel a person over whom it has jurisdiction to respond to a discovery order issued by a tribunal of another state.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.318.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 543r - Receipt and disbursement of payments

A support enforcement agency or tribunal of Puerto Rico shall disburse promptly any amounts received pursuant to a support order, as directed by the order. The agency or tribunal shall furnish to a requesting party or tribunal of another state a certified statement by the custodian of the record of the amounts and dates of all payments received.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 3.319.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544 - Petition to establish support order

(a) If a support order entitled to recognition under this chapter has not been issued, a responding tribunal of Puerto Rico may issue a support order if:
(1) The individual seeking the order resides in another state, or
(2) the support enforcement agency seeking the order is located in another state.
(b) The tribunal may issue a temporary child-support order if:
(1) The respondent has signed a verified statement acknowledging parentage;
(2) the respondent has been determined by or pursuant to law to be the parent, or
(3) there is other clear and convincing evidence that the respondent is the child’s parent.
(c) Upon finding, after notice and 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 pursuant to § 543d of this title.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 4.401.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544a - Employer’s receipt of income-withholding order of another state

An income-withholding order issued in another state may be sent to the person or entity defined as the obligor’s employer under the income-withholding law of Puerto Rico without first filing a petition or comparable pleading or registering the order with a tribunal of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.501.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544b - Employer’s compliance with income-withholding order of another state

(a) Upon 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 which appears regular on its face as if it had been issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d) of this section and § 544c of this title the employer shall withhold and distribute the funds as directed in the withholding order by complying with terms of the order which specify:
(1) The duration and amount of periodic payments of current child-support, stated as a sum certain;
(2) the person or agency designated to receive payments and the address to which the payments are to be forwarded;
(3) medical support, whether in the form of periodic cash payment, stated as a sum certain, or ordering the obligor to provide health 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.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.502.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544c - Compliance with multiple income-withholding orders

If an obligor’s employer receives multiple income-withholding orders with respect to the earnings of the same obligor, the employer satisfies the terms of the multiple 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 multiple child support obligees.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.503.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544d - Immunity from civil liability

An employer who complies with an income-withholding order issued in another state in accordance with this section 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.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.504.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544e - Penalties for noncompliance

An employer who willfully 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 Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.505.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544f - 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 Puerto Rico in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico. Section 545c of this title applies to the contest.
(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, and
(3) the person or agency designated to receive payments in the income-withholding order or if no person or agency is designated, to the obligee.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.506.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 544g - Administrative enforcement of orders

(a) A party seeking to enforce a support order or an income-withholding order, or both, issued by a tribunal of another state may send the documents required for registering the order to the Administration for Child Support.
(b) Upon 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 Puerto Rico 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 pursuant to this chapter.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 5.507.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 545 - Registration of order for enforcement

A support order or an income-withholding order issued by a tribunal of another state may be registered in Puerto Rico for enforcement.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.601.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 545a - Procedure to register order for enforcement

(a) A support order or income-withholding order of another state may be registered in Puerto Rico by sending the following documents and information to the appropriate tribunal of Puerto Rico:
(1) A letter of transmittal to the tribunal requesting registration and enforcement;
(2) two (2) copies, including one certified copy, of all orders to be registered, including any modification of an order;
(3) a sworn statement by the party seeking registration or a certified statement by the custodian of the records showing the amount of any arrearage;
(4) the name of the obligor and, if known:
(A) The obligor’s address and social security number;
(B) the name and address of the obligor’s employer and any other source of income of the obligor; and
(C) a description and the location of property of the obligor in Puerto Rico not exempt from execution; and
(5) the name and address of the obligee and, if applicable, the agency or person to whom support payments are to be remitted.
(b) On receipt of a request for registration, the registering tribunal shall cause the order to be filed as a foreign judgement, together with one copy of the documents and information, regardless of their form.
(c) A petition or comparable pleading seeking a remedy that must be affirmatively sought under other law of Puerto Rico may be filed at the same time as the request for registration or later. The pleading must specify the grounds for the remedy sought.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.602.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 545b - Effect of registration for enforcement

(a) A support order or income-withholding order issued in another state is registered when the order is filed in the registering tribunal of Puerto Rico.
(b) A registered order issued in another state is enforceable in the same manner and is subject to the same procedures as an order issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a tribunal of Puerto Rico shall recognize and enforce, but may not modify, a registered order if the issuing tribunal had jurisdiction.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.603.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 545c - Choice of law

(a) The law of the issuing state governs the nature, extent, amount, and duration of current payments and other obligations of support and the payment of arrearages under the order.
(b) In a proceeding for arrearages, the statute of limitation under the laws of Puerto Rico or of the issuing state, whichever is longer, applies.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.604.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 546 - Notice of registration of order

(a) When a support order or income-withholding order issued in another state is registered, the registering tribunal shall notify the nonregistering party. The notice must be accompanied by a copy of the registered order and the documents and relevant information accompanying the order.
(b) The notice must inform the nonregistering party:
(1) That a registered order is enforceable as of the date of registration in the same manner as an order issued by a tribunal of Puerto Rico;
(2) that a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order must be requested within twenty (20) days after notice;
(3) that failure to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner will result in confirmation of the order and enforcement of the order and the alleged arrearages and precludes further contest of that order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted, and
(4) of the amount of any alleged arrearages.
(c) Upon registration of an income-withholding order for enforcement, the registering tribunal shall notify the obligor’s employer pursuant to the income-withholding law of Puerto Rico.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.605.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 546a - Procedure to contest validity or enforcement of registered order

(a) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order in Puerto Rico shall request a hearing within twenty (20) days after notice of the registration. The nonregistering party may seek to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the registered order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages pursuant to § 546b of this title.
(b) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.
(c) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties of the date, time, and place of the hearing.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.606.
2023 Laws of Puerto Rico › TITLE EIGHT - Public Welfare and Charitable Institutions (§§ 1 — 1422) › Chapter 25A - Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (§§ 541-541b — 548c) › § 546b - Contest of registration or enforcement

(a) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:
(1) The issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;
(2) the order was obtained by fraud;
(3) the order has been vacated, suspended, or modified by a later order;
(4) the issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;
(5) there is a defense under the law of Puerto Rico to the remedy sought;
(6) full or partial payment has been made, or
(7) the statute of limitation under § 545c of this title precludes enforcement of some or all of the arrearages.
(b) If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection (a) of this section, a tribunal may stay enforcement of the registered order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence, and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered order may be enforced by all remedies available under the law of Puerto Rico.
(c) If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (a) of this section to the validity or enforcement of the order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.
History —Dec. 20, 1997, No. 180, art. 6.607.