L.V. III v. I.H. and Jefferson County Department of Human Resources

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REL: 02/08/2013 Notice: T h i s o p i n i o n i s s u b j e c t t o formal r e v i s i o n b e f o r e p u b l i c a t i o n i n t h e advance s h e e t s o f Southern R e p o r t e r . R e a d e r s a r e r e q u e s t e d t o n o t i f y t h e R e p o r t e r o f D e c i s i o n s , Alabama A p p e l l a t e C o u r t s , 300 D e x t e r A v e n u e , M o n t g o m e r y , A l a b a m a 3 6 1 0 4 - 3 7 4 1 ((334) 2 2 9 - 0 6 4 9 ) , o f a n y t y p o g r a p h i c a l o r o t h e r e r r o r s , i n o r d e r t h a t c o r r e c t i o n s may b e made b e f o r e t h e o p i n i o n i s p r i n t e d i n Southern R e p o r t e r . ALABAMA COURT OF CIVIL APPEALS OCTOBER TERM, 2012-2013 2110961 L.V. I I I v. I.H. and J e f f e r s o n County Department o f Human Resources Appeal from J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court (CS-08-912 and CS-08-912.01) PITTMAN, Judge. This appeal concerns a c h i l d - s u p p o r t order i s s u e d i n the Federal for Republic o f Germany t h a t was t r a n s m i t t e d t o Alabama r e g i s t r a t i o n under t h e Alabama U n i f o r m I n t e r s t a t e Family S u p p o r t A c t ("UIFSA"), § 30-3A-101 e t s e q . , A l a . Code 1975. 2110961 F a c t s and In A p r i l 1999, Procedural History t h e German I n s t i t u t e f o r G u a r d i a n s h i p t h e f o l l o w i n g documents t o t h e B a l d w i n J u v e n i l e C o u r t : German-language copies February 3, 1989, of Local the and of three three E n g l i s h translations of by L.V. statement Court sent clerk I I I to the j u d i c i a l Wurzburg, p a t e r n i t y o f I.H.'s u n b o r n c h i l d Germany, a acknowledging and a g r e e i n g t o s u p p o r t the c h i l d as r e q u i r e d by German l a w ; t h r e e G e r m a n - l a n g u a g e c o p i e s and t h r e e E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n s o f a May Local Court order"), who was o f N u r n b e r g , Germany directing born installments t h a t L.V. on that April to make any were due had 1989, increased with child-support-payment ("the provide 4, 16, 1995, the order of the German c h i l d - s u p p o r t support in f o r the specific age of the h i s t o r y i n d i c a t i n g t h a t L.V. monthly child; had a child-support arrearage in the a failed p a y m e n t s , t h a t c u r r e n t m o n t h l y payments o f u n d e r t h e German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r , and accrued child, that amount $198 L.V. of $22,509.11; a sworn s t a t e m e n t by t h e r e c o r d s c u s t o d i a n f o r t h e German I n s t i t u t e of Guardianship the a r r e a r a g e accrued under the 2 t h a t the "facts concerning [May 16, 1995,] o r d e r a r e t r u e 2110961 and correct"; a c o m p l a i n t f o r s u p p o r t and reimbursement; and a registration The 1989 name, S o c i a l status, unit statement. acknowledgment Security of p a t e r n i t y contains number, r e l i g i o u s p r e f e r e n c e , d a t e and p l a c e o f b i r t h i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , and Army identification Post L.V.'s Office number, and marital military t h e number of the c a r d b y w h i c h L.V. i d e n t i f i e d h i m s e l f German a u t h o r i t i e s . to the The 1989 a c k n o w l e d g m e n t b e a r s t h e s e a l o f the L o c a l C o u r t o f Wurzberg accompanied by t h e p h r a s e "Fur d i e Richtigkeit der A b s c h r i f t , " translation, English from means which, according " f o r the correctness to the of t h e copy." t r a n s l a t i o n states that i t i s a " c e r t i f i e d German" Interpreter and contains Office," with the English seal of t h e name and the Each translation "Translation- signature of the t r a n s l a t o r and t h e a t t e s t a t i o n : " I c e r t i f y t h a t t h i s i s a t r u e and correct translation to the best o f my knowledge and belief." On June requiring month, 21, the German child-support order L.V. t o p a y c h i l d s u p p o r t i n t h e amount o f $198 p e r supported arrearage 1999, of by the $22,509.11, documents was 3 reflecting registered in a the past-due Baldwin 2110961 J u v e n i l e Court attempts i n c a s e number CS-99-131. t o s e r v e L.V. German After unsuccessful w i t h n o t i c e of the r e g i s t r a t i o n of the child-support order, the Baldwin County A t t o r n e y , b a s e d on i n f o r m a t i o n and b e l i e f t h a t L.V. Mobile C o u n t y , moved t h e B a l d w i n Baldwin J u v e n i l e Court Juvenile Court. reviewed the German r e g i s t e r e d i n Baldwin L.V. June 2008, c a s e was J u l y 7, case to transfer 2000, the of the case order and the Mobile adopted that and had been to serve County. the u n s u c c e s s f u l attempts registration i n Mobile County, t r a n s f e r r e d to the J e f f e r s o n Family C o u r t , 1 the where i t "[T]he J e f f e r s o n Family Court [is] a d i v i s i o n of the J e f f e r s o n C i r c u i t Court. See A c t No. 674, A l a . A c t s 1967 (renaming t h e ' J u v e n i l e and D o m e s t i c R e l a t i o n s C o u r t of J e f f e r s o n County' the 'Family Court of J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y ' ) ; A c t No. 478, A l a . A c t s 1935 (establishing i n certain counties a ' J u v e n i l e and D o m e s t i c R e l a t i o n s C o u r t ' and p r o v i d i n g t h a t those courts would e x e r c i s e j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r j u v e n i l e m a t t e r s and a l s o e x e r c i s e ' a l l t h e power, j u r i s d i c t i o n and a u t h o r i t y ' of the c i r c u i t c o u r t s . " 1 Placey 2010) . the child-support following w i t h n o t i c e of On to 5, 2000, t h e M o b i l e J u v e n i l e C o u r t the p r o c e d u r a l h i s t o r y affirmed In transferred On O c t o b e r resided i n J u v e n i l e Court the case t o the M o b i l e J u v e n i l e C o u r t . District v. Placey, 51 So. 3d 374, 4 375 n.2 (Ala. Civ. App. 2110961 was assigned taken case i n case number number CS-08-912. CS-08-912. No On f u r t h e r a c t i o n was July 14, J e f f e r s o n C o u n t y D e p a r t m e n t o f Human R e s o u r c e s in the Jefferson Family I.H., Court a petition 2008, the ("DHR") f i l e d on t h e r e l a t i o n o f s e e k i n g a f i n d i n g o f c o n t e m p t a g a i n s t L.V. a n d a l l e g i n g that L.V. was $39, 3 8 8 . 2 3 2 i n a r r e a r s i n t h e payment o f t h e c h i l d s u p p o r t o r d e r e d b y t h e L o c a l C o u r t o f N u r n b e r g , Germany. The petition January following 13, was 2009, a January assigned case the family number court 12, 2009, h e a r i n g , had b e e n " s e r v e d t h i s d a t e . " CS-08-912.01. entered On a notation, indicating t h a t L.V. On May 1 1 , 2009, f o l l o w i n g a May 8, 2009, h e a r i n g on t h e c o n t e m p t p e t i t i o n , the family court e n t e r e d an o r d e r s t a t i n g t h a t " [ L . V . ] a c k n o w l e d g e s c o n t e m p t , " o r d e r i n g L.V. t o p a y $1,200 on o r b e f o r e June 30, 2009, a n d t h e r e a f t e r t o p a y $300 p e r month on t h e a r r e a r a g e , a n d s e t t i n g the case f o rreview i n 90-180 days. The a r r e a r a g e amount was b a s e d on a May 20, 2008, l e t t e r f r o m N a t a l i e H a r t e n , a r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e German I n s t i t u t e f o r Y o u t h , Human S e r v i c e s , a n d F a m i l y Law i n H e i d e l b e r g , Germany, i n f o r m i n g B o n n i e O d e l l , an e m p l o y e e o f t h e DHR C h i l d Support-Enforcement U n i t i n Birmingham, t h a t t h e c u r r e n t a r r e a r a g e was $39,462.33. The r e c o r d c o n t a i n s no e x p l a n a t i o n f o r t h e d i s c r e p a n c y b e t w e e n t h e a r r e a r a g e a l l e g e d i n DHR's p e t i t i o n and t h e a r r e a r a g e r e p o r t e d by Harten. 2 5 2110961 L.V. appeared S e p t e m b e r 24, 2010. a t review hearings on February 19 a n d On S e p t e m b e r 27, 2 0 1 1 , t h e f a m i l y court d e t e r m i n e d t h a t L.V. h a d n o t made a c h i l d - s u p p o r t payment f o r one year and o r d e r e d h i m t o p a y $3,000 b y November 2, 2 0 1 1 . When L.V. f a i l e d t o c o m p l y w i t h t h e o r d e r family court ordered b y November 2, t h e t h a t he be i n c a r c e r a t e d a n d s e t a $3,000 cash bond t o purge t h e contempt. On November 4, 2 0 1 1 , L.V. p a i d $3,000 a n d was r e l e a s e d f r o m jail. On A p r i l 9, 2012, L.V., a c t i n g t h r o u g h c o u n s e l , answer t o t h e contempt p e t i t i o n registration he the order, genetic with with test. respectively, Section 3 On A p r i l that and r e q u e s t i n g of a 10 a n d May 30, 2012, L.V. a p p e a r e d a t compliance hearings, and s t a t i n g alleging notice of the r e g i s t r a t i o n denying p a t e r n i t y of the c h i l d , counsel 3 and a motion t o c h a l l e n g e t h e o f t h e German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r , had n e v e r been s e r v e d f i l e d an that, from paying that $1,500 a n d $300, time forward, 30-3A-315, A l a . Code 1975, p r o v i d e s : "A p a r t y whose p a r e n t a g e o f a c h i l d h a s b e e n p r e v i o u s l y d e t e r m i n e d b y o r p u r s u a n t t o l a w may n o t p l e a d n o n p a r e n t a g e as a d e f e n s e t o a proceeding under t h i s chapter, r a t h e r , s u c h i s s u e must be p u r s u e d i n t h e a p p r o p r i a t e forum o f t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n i n w h i c h p a t e r n i t y was e s t a b l i s h e d , a n d a c c o r d i n g t o the law o f t h a t j u r i s d i c t i o n . " 6 he 2110961 w o u l d pay $500 e a c h month. 2012, entered and L.V.'s A p r i l the German 9, on I n an June 2012, 8, order 2012, r e n d e r e d on May the family motion c h a l l e n g i n g the child-support order and court 30, denied registration requesting a of paternity test. On June 20, 2012, L.V., a c t i n g t h r o u g h new a motion to v a c a t e the f a m i l y c o u r t ' s counsel, June 8, 2012, filed order or, i n the a l t e r n a t i v e , t o d i s m i s s the contempt a c t i o n f o r l a c k of subject-matter hearing but he on was jurisdiction. June 28, 2012. represented L.V. by the this the denied judge on appeal, subject-matter The L.V. Juv. 2012. argues jurisdiction r e g i s t e r e d , as no family-court was L.V. a hearing, contains the order for adopted by appealed to f a m i l y - c o u r t judge certified 2012. See Rule P. that family court lacked the German child- t h a t f o r e i g n j u d g m e n t was required 7 the enforce to s u p p o r t o r d e r b e c a u s e , he s a y s , properly the record 2012, that set attend The 29, was a p p e a l as a d e q u a t e on A u g u s t 2, 28(A) ( 1 ) ( a ) , A l a . R. On and June c o u r t on t h e same day. r e c o r d on d i d not On June 28, L.V.'s m o t i o n , family-court motion counsel. t r a n s c r i p t of the h e a r i n g . referee That by § 30-3A-602, A l a . not Code 2110961 1975, and, he s a y s , registration, he was never served with notice of the as r e q u i r e d by § 30-3A-605, A l a . Code 1975. Standard of Review L.V.'s argument child-support "Only order strict regarding implicates compliance procedure confers judgment. 2010), 3d [the the German jurisdiction. UIFSA] registration j u r i s d i c t i o n upon an A l a b a m a or to modify a foreign child-support See M a t t e s v. M a t t e s , 60 So. 3d 887 ( A l a . C i v . App. and Ex 2010)." of subject-matter with subject-matter c i r c u i t court to enforce registration parte Owens, Ex p a r t e O r t i z , , registration L.V.'s 65 3d 953 ( A l a . C i v . App. [Ms. 2110927, O c t o b e r 5, 2012] ( A l a . C i v . App. i s s u e i s de novo. argument So. 2012) . Our review So. of the Id. concerning service of the notice of r e g i s t r a t i o n , however, i m p l i c a t e s the i s s u e whether t h e f a m i l y court lacked personal jurisdiction that, u n l i k e l a c k of subject-matter not timely asserted. (stating that "subsection that service be obtained See § (b)(2) over L.V. a defense j u r i s d i c t i o n , i s waived i f 30-3A-605 (Alabama [ o f § 30-3A-605] under the Alabama ... Rules Comment) requires of Civil P r o c e d u r e " ) and R u l e 1 2 ( h ) ( 1 ) , A l a . R. C i v . P. ( p r o v i d i n g t h a t 8 2110961 a defense of i n s u f f i c i e n c y of s e r v i c e of p r o c e s s i s waived i f i t i s n o t i n c l u d e d i n a R u l e 12 m o t i o n , a r e s p o n s i v e o r an amended r e s p o n s i v e w h e t h e r a p a r t y has F o s t e r v. F o s t e r , 709 pleading). Our waived personal So. 2d 1301, review of the jurisdiction 1302 pleading, issue i s de novo. ( A l a . C i v . App. 1998) . Discussion Registration: procedure judgment, for Section 30-3A-602, registration of a which foreign sets out the child-support provides: "(a) A s u p p o r t o r d e r o r i n c o m e - w i t h h o l d i n g order of another s t a t e may be r e g i s t e r e d i n t h i s s t a t e by s e n d i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g documents and i n f o r m a t i o n to the a p p r o p r i a t e court i n t h i s s t a t e : [ 4 ] "(1) a l e t t e r of court requesting enforcement; t r a n s m i t t a l to registration the and A " s t a t e " i n c l u d e s "a f o r e i g n j u r i s d i c t i o n t h a t has e n a c t e d a law or e s t a b l i s h e d p r o c e d u r e s f o r i s s u a n c e and enforcement of support orders which are s u b s t a n t i a l l y s i m i l a r to the procedures under t h i s chapter [ i . e . , UIFSA], the Uniform R e c i p r o c a l Enforcement of Support A c t , or the R e v i s e d Uniform R e c i p r o c a l Enforcement of Support A c t . " A l a . Code 1975, § 3 0 - 3 A - 1 0 1 ( 2 0 ) ( i i ) . The E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n o f t h e G e r m a n - l a n g u a g e c o m p l a i n t t h a t was i n c l u d e d i n t h e p a c k e t o f m a t e r i a l s s e n t t o t h e B a l d w i n J u v e n i l e C o u r t by t h e German I n s t i t u t e of Guardianship s t a t e s : "This i s a p e t i t i o n f o r s u p p o r t u n d e r t h e R e c i p r o c a l E n f o r c e m e n t o f S u p p o r t A c t as a d o p t e d by t h e S t a t e o f A l a b a m a . The F e d e r a l R e p u b l i c of Germany has a s u b s t a n t i a l l y s i m i l a r r e c i p r o c a l l a w c o n c e r n i n g the enforcement of support." 4 9 2110961 "(2) two copies, including one certified copy, of a l l orders t o be r e g i s t e r e d , i n c l u d i n g any m o d i f i c a t i o n o f an o r d e r ; "(3) a sworn s t a t e m e n t b y t h e p a r t y seeking registration or a certified statement by t h e t r i b u n a l o r c o l l e c t i o n a g e n c y s h o w i n g t h e amount o f any a r r e a r a g e ; "(4) known: and t h e name o f t h e o b l i g o r and, i f "(i) the obligor's address S o c i a l S e c u r i t y number; " ( i i ) t h e name a n d a d d r e s s of t h e o b l i g o r ' s employer and any o t h e r s o u r c e o f income o f t h e o b l i g o r ; and " ( i i i ) a d e s c r i p t i o n and t h e location of property of the o b l i g o r i n t h i s s t a t e n o t exempt from e x e c u t i o n ; and "(5) t h e name a n d a d d r e s s o f t h e o b l i g e e and, i f a p p l i c a b l e , t h e agency o r p e r s o n t o whom s u p p o r t payments a r e t o be remitted. "(b) On r e c e i p t o f a r e q u e s t f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n , t h e r e g i s t e r i n g c o u r t s h a l l c a u s e t h e o r d e r t o be f i l e d as a f o r e i g n j u d g m e n t , t o g e t h e r w i t h one c o p y o f t h e documents a n d i n f o r m a t i o n , regardless of t h e i r form. "(c) A p e t i t i o n o r comparable p l e a d i n g s e e k i n g a remedy t h a t must be a f f i r m a t i v e l y s o u g h t u n d e r o t h e r l a w o f t h i s s t a t e may be f i l e d a t t h e same t i m e as t h e r e q u e s t f o r r e g i s t r a t i o n o r l a t e r . The 10 2110961 pleading sought." L.V. must specify the grounds the remedy c o n t e n d s t h a t t h e German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r was properly r e g i s t e r e d b e c a u s e , he appropriate Alabama c o u r t . says, See t h a t because s e r v i c e could Baldwin later, County, juvenile courts proper Although and issue, not be in in need not Mobile to consider filed in have the than to County assert first, in that the M o b i l e C o u n t y were registered issue Family to the Court for Mobile Juvenile were based upon t r a n s f e r o r c o u r t s t h a t L.V. subsequently, Jefferson M a t t e s , 60 So. 3d 887, UIFSA requires order ... obligor'" L.V. "'the 890 the further, that and that C o u r t and information order. see the not Rule materials the subsequent to the Jefferson by the r e s i d i n g i n M o b i l e County was and, County. See obligee ... to personal § 30-3A-611 11 received generally ( A l a . C i v . App. i n a s t a t e w h i c h has (quoting note no f r o m Germany t o t h e B a l d w i n J u v e n i l e C o u r t show a transfers we makes transmitted address P., He the Ala. County App. other not 28(a)(10), Baldwin R. which not accomplished o f B a l d w i n C o u n t y and courts we i t was § 30-3A-602(a). cogent argument c o n c e r n i n g t h i s the for 2010) register Mattes (noting the jurisdiction (Official Comment))). v. that existing over the 2110961 L.V. record a l s o m a i n t a i n s t h a t i t c a n n o t be d i s c e r n e d f r o m t h e on appeal whether a "letter of transmittal ... r e q u e s t i n g r e g i s t r a t i o n and e n f o r c e m e n t " o f t h e German c h i l d support order was filed, see § 30-3A-602(a), or how many c o p i e s o f t h e o r d e r were f i l e d o r w h e t h e r any c e r t i f i e d c o p i e s of t h e o r d e r were f i l e d , see § 3 0 - 3 A - 6 0 2 ( a ) ( 2 ) . I t i s true t h a t t h e r e c o r d does n o t s p e c i f i c a l l y i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e p a c k e t o f m a t e r i a l s s e n t by t h e German I n s t i t u t e o f G u a r d i a n s h i p t o the Baldwin J u v e n i l e Court c o n t a i n e d a " l e t t e r of t r a n s m i t t a l ... requesting registration child-support demonstrates, "transmittal" that the order. (Emphasis however, that Support enforcement" added.) the contained rejected The the German record clearly itself was a of Guardianship and packet within the packet Act" under the R e c i p r o c a l "requested] ... Enforcement registration and of the order. I n Bank o f A n n i s t o n v. F a r m e r s Krum, T e x a s , of t h e " r e g i s t r a t i o n s t a t e m e n t " and t h e " c o m p l a i n t f o r s u p p o r t and r e i m b u r s e m e n t of enforcement" f r o m t h e German I n s t i t u t e materials specifically, and 507 So. 2d 927 t h e argument t h a t , & Merchants ( A l a . 1987), because 12 our S t a t e Bank o f supreme c o u r t the defendant's address 2110961 was incorrectly listed s t a t u t o r y requirements strictly observed. on a certificate of judgment, the f o r f i l i n g t h e c e r t i f i c a t e had n o t b e e n The court stated: "[T]he s t a t u t o r y requirement t h a t the contents of t h e c e r t i f i c a t e o f j u d g m e n t be s t r i c t l y observed must be v i e w e d i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e p u r p o s e o f t h a t requirement. That purpose i s t o p r o v i d e n o t i c e of t h e j u d g m e n t t o anyone s e a r c h i n g t i t l e t o t h e r e a l p r o p e r t y . ... H e r e , ... t h e c e r t i f i c a t e o f j u d g m e n t was w i t h i n t h e c h a i n o f t i t l e and w o u l d have g i v e n n o t i c e t o anyone s e a r c h i n g t i t l e t o t h e p r o p e r t y . " 507 So. 2d a t 929. the trial court The erred judgment c o m p l i e d court concluded: "We cannot say in the certificate w i t h the finding that requirements 507 So. 2d a t of form over 930. L i k e w i s e , h o l d i n g t h a t t h e r e was with of o f § 6-9-210[, A l a . Code 1 9 7 5 ] . To h o l d o t h e r w i s e w o u l d be a t r i u m p h substance." that [ t h e UIFSA] r e g i s t r a t i o n not procedure" c o u r t d i d n o t have s u b j e c t - m a t t e r "strict and compliance t h a t an A l a b a m a jurisdiction to enforce German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r , see Ex p a r t e O r t i z , So. the 3d at , b e c a u s e a p e r f u n c t o r y c o v e r l e t t e r does n o t a p p e a r i n t h e record before us w o u l d a l s o r e p r e s e n t substance. The transmittal ... self-evident a triumph purpose requesting registration of a of form "letter over of and e n f o r c e m e n t " o f a f o r e i g n o r d e r i s t o c o n v e y a r e q u e s t by t h e i s s u i n g " s t a t e " t o 13 2110961 register and p u r p o s e was enforce L.V.'s order the packet of registration the of the and discerned o f t h e German merit. That contained a more from the child-support As p r e v i o u s l y a l l o f them were discussed, than sufficient filed. argument d i r e c t e d t o t h e a l l e g e d l y improper the order German c h i l d - s u p p o r t "The The i s that 1995 court L o c a l Court of Nurnberg. t r a n s l a t i o n of a preprinted, states: the words appearing copy, w h i c h order According on the above stamped w r i t i n g i m m e d i a t e l y above o f f i c i a l the the is identical o r i g i n a l document, i s i s s u e d f o r t h e p e t i t i o n e r f o r purpose Below i s without s e a l of the English w i t h the the many c o p i e s be o f t h e o r d e r were n o t c e r t i f i e d . contains seal i t cannot materials L.V.'s l a s t order, that a p p e a l how number o f c o p i e s to t r i b u n a l ' s order. f r o m Germany. argument were f i l e d copies issuing a c c o m p l i s h e d by t h e m a t e r i a l s c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n t h e packet transmitted r e c o r d on the those of forcible words S e c r e t a r y , " who execution appears the i s designated signature as t h e o f t h e L o c a l C o u r t o f N u r n b e r g , and 14 against the of "recorder the date: respondent." "Marx, Justice of the office" "28 June 1995." 2110961 A "signed lawful certified and copy certified custody of the of a as public a true record c o p y by original." is the II Charles one that o f f i c e r who W. 2009). We conclude that " c e r t i f i e d c o p y " o f t h e 1995 by the Local Court a c k n o w l e d g e d t o be one who was The of the document i n q u e s t i o n German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r Nurnberg, "identical because [to] the i t was of the German and (6th is a issued signed and o r i g i n a l document" e v i d e n t l y the c u s t o d i a n of records registration has Gamble R o b e r t J . Goodwin, M c E l r o y ' s A l a b a m a E v i d e n c e § 2 1 8 . 0 1 ( 2 ) ed. is by for that court. child-support order c o m p l i e d w i t h § 30-3A-602. S e r v i c e of the N o t i c e of R e g i s t r a t i o n : S e c t i o n 30-3A-605 provides: "(a) When a s u p p o r t o r d e r o r income-withholding order i s s u e d i n another s t a t e i s r e g i s t e r e d , the r e g i s t e r i n g c o u r t s h a l l n o t i f y the n o n r e g i s t e r i n g p a r t y as p r o v i d e d u n d e r t h e A l a b a m a R u l e s o f C i v i l P r o c e d u r e . The n o t i c e must be a c c o m p a n i e d by a c o p y of the r e g i s t e r e d order and the documents and r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n accompanying the order. "(b) The n o t i c e must i n f o r m t h e n o n r e g i s t e r i n g p a r t y : "(1) that a registered order is e n f o r c e a b l e as o f t h e d a t e o f r e g i s t r a t i o n i n t h e same manner as an o r d e r i s s u e d by a c o u r t of t h i s s t a t e ; 15 2110961 "(2) t h a t a h e a r i n g t o c o n t e s t the v a l i d i t y or enforcement of the r e g i s t e r e d o r d e r must be r e q u e s t e d w i t h i n 30 d a y s a f t e r the date of s e r v i c e o b t a i n e d under the Alabama R u l e s of C i v i l P r o c e d u r e ; "(3) that failure to contest the v a l i d i t y or enforcement of the r e g i s t e r e d o r d e r i n a t i m e l y manner w i l l r e s u l t i n c o n f i r m a t i o n o f t h e o r d e r and e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e o r d e r and t h e a l l e g e d a r r e a r a g e s and precludes f u r t h e r contest of t h a t order w i t h r e s p e c t t o any m a t t e r t h a t c o u l d have b e e n a s s e r t e d ; and "(4) of arrearages. the amount of any alleged " ( c ) Upon r e g i s t r a t i o n o f an income-withholding order f o r enforcement, the registering tribunal s h a l l n o t i f y the o b l i g o r ' s employer pursuant to the income-withholding law of t h i s s t a t e . " The family court 08-912.01 that L.V. recorded was a n o t a t i o n i n c a s e number served on r e c o r d does n o t i n d i c a t e w h e t h e r L.V. contempt p e t i t i o n f i l e d by DHR January was 12, 2009. The served only with o r w h e t h e r he was also r e g i s t e r e d German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r "the relevant order." § 30-3A-605(a). w i t h n o t i c e of the information accompanying However, e v e n i f L.V. was not r e g i s t r a t i o n of t h a t at the the time he was and th[at] served r e g i s t e r e d German c h i l d - s u p p o r t o r d e r t h e documents a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e served with 16 contempt the served w i t h n o t i c e of the documents and CS- and order petition, he 2110961 w a i v e d t h e d e f e n s e o f l a c k o f n o t i c e o f t h e r e g i s t e r e d German child-support order Jefferson Family hearing was on the by submitting C o u r t on May contempt p e t i t i o n jurisdiction 2009, when he and the family jurisdiction over him. January 2013] 11, (holding modify that, against him of p e r s o n a l So. in a default 2010, 975 of So. lack 2d registration of 927, consolidated of divorce the personal couple lack intends to the 2110943, App. a had 2013) petition been court's to entered exercise i n 2004, t h e h u s b a n d w a i v e d jurisdiction); and 2006) D.B. v. (holding, involving adoption and child-custody judgment, that to service of o f t h e N e b r a s k a j u d g m e n t by failing to of had personal [Ms. filed that he of Civ. ( A l a . C i v . App. Nebraska postjudgment motion defendant husband a order]" without Hall, (Ala. o v e r him 937-38 n o t i c e of r e g i s t r a t i o n to when proceedings a Alabama a d o p t i v e object v. i n 2004 w i t h o u t c h a l l e n g i n g defense M.A., Hall the appeared at exercise 3d judgment of jurisdiction the court's Cf. of "acknowledge[d that i n ] c o n t e m p t [ o f t h e German c h i l d - s u p p o r t challenging in 8, to the waived notice i n the rely the until adoption on want o f 17 right the filing proceeding). jurisdiction of their "'[I]f over a his 2110961 person, he must a p p e a r , i f at a l l , f o r the s o l e purpose o b j e c t i n g to the j u r i s d i c t i o n of the court. any considered general.'" other purpose i s usually E l m o r e C n t y . Dep't o f Human R e s . , Civ. App. 2011) (quoting 681, 151 So. 2d 210, 215 (1963)). An a p p e a r a n c e f o r 75 So. 3d 1195, P e r s o n s v. of R.M. v. 1200 ( A l a . Summers, 274 Ala. C o n s e q u e n t l y , L.V. 673, waived any c l a i m as t o t h e i n s u f f i c i e n c y o f s e r v i c e o f p r o c e s s . The Jefferson jurisdiction exercised of Family this personal UIFSA Court enforcement jurisdiction had subject-matter action o v e r L.V. and properly I t s judgment i s affirmed. AFFIRMED. Thompson, P . J . , and Thomas, Moore, and concur. 18 Donaldson, J J . ,

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