Parents Live in Different States/Countries
When parents or caretakers live in different states or countries, a child support case can be opened at the child support office where one of the parents or caretakers lives. The child support office will either establish and enforce the child support order or ask another state or country for help.
What is the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)?
Federal law requires all states to pursue child support activities, including location, paternity and support order establishment, and enforcement of support orders, as strongly for children who live outside their state as for those within their state. The UIFSA is the law that tells states how to get and enforce child support obligations when the parents do not live in the same state or country. UIFSA allows states power to reach beyond their own borders for certain types of child support actions, to simplify and speed up processes. However, under certain circumstances the child support office may need to work in cooperation with another state to establish and/or enforce a child support order.
What if I do not have a child support order?
The child support office will work with the other state (or country) to get an order or ask the other state to enforce that order, if needed.
What if I already have a child support order?
The child support office can work with the other state to enforce an order, if needed.
Which state decides the child support amount?
If you do not have an child support order, the law requires the child support office to determine which state sets the child support amount based on the facts of your case.
Can my child support amount be changed?
Your case can be reviewed for a modification at either parent's request. In Minnesota, the child support amount can go up or down based on many factors. Each state has it's own court system with varying laws and practices.
Will I have to go to the other state?
The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act does not require your physical presence for court hearings, however you may be asked to be available by telephone for court hearings.
Are child support laws the same in every state?
Laws regarding child support vary from state to state. The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act helps states work together more efficiently and effectively.
I have a child support order from one state, but neither of us lives in that state. Is the court order still good?
If parents move from the state that issued their child support order, child support is still due under the order and the order may be enforced no matter where the parents live.
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