Also known as:Uniform Interstate Family Support Act · uniform interstate family support act
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
A uniform act adopted by all states that establishes procedures for establishing, enforcing, and modifying child-support and spousal-support orders across state lines while ensuring a single controlling order.
Sources & Authorities
How it applies
Common Examples
3
Initiating Enforcement Request
Uma Underwood obtained a child-support order in State A. After the obligor Ulric Unger relocated to State B, Uma asked the State A tribunal to act as an initiating tribunal. The tribunal forwarded the request because the original order remained controlling and unmodified by any other state under the Act. State B then enforced the order through wage withholding.
Duration Governed by Issuing State
Uri Underwood secured a support order in State X where emancipation occurs at age twenty-one. After the child moved to State Y where emancipation occurs at age eighteen, the obligor sought termination. The court applied State X law and continued the obligation until the child reached twenty-one.
Put it into practice
Test Yourself
10
Practice Questions5
· 9 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Uniform Acts
Casebooks
Hornbooks
Course Outlines
Study Supplements
Dictionaries
Long-Arm Jurisdiction for Parentage
Unity Underhill filed a parentage and support petition in State C against nonresident Usman Uddin. The court exercised personal jurisdiction because the conditions under the state's version of UIFSA section 201 were satisfied. The proceeding proceeded on both parentage and support issues.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
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Which state retains continuing exclusive jurisdiction to modify a child-support order?+
The issuing state retains continuing exclusive jurisdiction so long as the order remains controlling and at least one party or the child still resides there, unless all parties consent in a record to another forum.
May a new state modify an order when no party remains in the issuing state?+
Yes, once no party or child resides in the issuing state a new tribunal with proper jurisdiction may assume authority and enter a modifying order that becomes the controlling order.
Does personal service within the forum state confer jurisdiction under UIFSA?+
Yes, UIFSA section 201(a)(1) authorizes personal jurisdiction over a nonresident when the individual is personally served within the state, and this basis satisfies due process for establishment actions.
Which state's law governs the duration of a support obligation after registration elsewhere?+
The law of the issuing state governs the nature and duration of the obligation, including the age of emancipation, even after the order is registered for enforcement in another state.
Family LawSeparation, divorce, dissolution, and annulment · Modification of maintenance and child supportUBEFoundational