2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 37 - Alimony and Support
3705 - Enforcement of foreign decrees.

     § 3705.  Enforcement of foreign decrees.
        (a)  General rule.--Whenever a person subject to a valid
     decree of a sister state or territory for the distribution of
     marital property or for the payment of alimony, temporary
     alimony or alimony pendente lite, or the property of that person
     is found within this Commonwealth, the obligee of the decree may
     petition the court where the obligor or the property of the
     obligor is found to register, adopt as its own and enforce the
     decree as a properly issued and authenticated decree of a sister
     state or territory. Upon registration and adoption, such relief
     and process for enforcement as is provided or prescribed by law
     in similar cases originally commenced in this Commonwealth shall
     be available. A copy of the decree and order shall be forwarded
     to the court of the state or territory which issued the original
     decree. The obligor shall have whatever defenses and relief are
     available to the obligor in the state or territory which issued
     the original decree and may question the jurisdiction of that
     court if not otherwise barred. Interest may be awarded on unpaid
     installments and security may be required to insure future
     payments as in cases originally commenced in this Commonwealth.
     Where property of the obligor, but not the person of the
     obligor, is found within this Commonwealth, there shall be
     jurisdiction quasi in rem, and, upon registration and adoption
     of the decree of the sister state or territory, relief and
     enforcement of the decree shall be available as in other
     proceedings which are quasi in rem.
        (b)  Optional procedure.--The right of a judgment creditor to
     proceed under 42 Pa.C.S. § 4306 (relating to enforcement of
     foreign judgments) or otherwise instead of proceeding under this
     section remains unimpaired.