2010 Pennsylvania Code
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 81 - General Provisions
8101 - Short title of part and definitions.

                               PART VIII-A
                        INTRASTATE FAMILY SUPPORT

     Chapter
       81.  General Provisions
       82.  Jurisdiction
       83.  Civil Provisions of General Application
       84.  Enforcement and Modification of Support Order After
            Registration

        Enactment.  Part VIII-A was added April 4, 1996, P.L.58,
     No.20, effective immediately.
        Applicability.  Section 7 of Act 20 of 1996 provided that Act
     20 shall apply to actions initiated on or after the effective
     date of Act 20.

                                CHAPTER 81
                            GENERAL PROVISIONS

     Sec.
     8101.  Short title of part and definitions.
     8102.  Scope.
     8103.  Remedies cumulative.

        Enactment.  Chapter 81 was added April 4, 1996, P.L.58,
     No.20, effective immediately.
     § 8101.  Short title of part and definitions.
        (a)  Short title of part.--This part shall be known and may
     be cited as the Intrastate Family Support Act.
        (b)  Definitions.--Subject to additional definitions
     contained in subsequent provisions of this part which are
     applicable to specific provisions of this part, the following
     words and phrases when used in this part shall have the meanings
     given to them in this section unless the context clearly
     indicates otherwise:
        "Child."  An individual, whether over or under the age of
     majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a duty of support by
     the individual's parent or who is or is alleged to be the
     beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent.
        "Child support order."  A support order for a child,
     including a child who has attained the age of majority.
        "Department."  The Department of Public Welfare of the
     Commonwealth.
        "Duty of support."  An obligation imposed or imposable by law
     to provide support for a child, spouse or former spouse. The
     term includes an unsatisfied obligation to provide support.
        "Income."  The term includes earnings or other periodic
     entitlements to money from any source and any other property
     subject to withholding for support under the laws of this
     Commonwealth.
        "Income-withholding order."  An order or other legal process
     directed to an obligor's employer or other debtor, in accordance
     with section 4348 (relating to attachment of income), to
     withhold support from the income of the obligor.
        "Initiating county."  A county in which a proceeding under
     this part or a law substantially similar to this part, the
     Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised
     Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act is filed for
     forwarding to a responding county.
        "Initiating tribunal."  The authorized tribunal in an
     initiating county.
        "Issuing county."  The county in which a tribunal issues a
     support order or renders a judgment determining parentage.
        "Issuing tribunal."  The tribunal that issues a support order
     or renders a judgment determining parentage.
        "Law."  The term includes decisional and statutory law and
     rules and regulations having the force of law.
        "Obligee."  Any of the following:
            (1)  An individual to whom a duty of support is or is
        alleged to be owed or in whose favor a support order has been
        issued or a judgment determining parentage has been rendered.
            (2)  A political subdivision to which the rights under a
        duty of support or support order have been assigned or which
        has independent claims based on financial assistance provided
        to an individual obligee.
            (3)  An individual seeking a judgment determining
        parentage of the individual's child.
            (4)  The Department of Public Welfare.
        "Obligor."  An individual or the estate of a decedent that:
            (1)  owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;
            (2)  is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a
        parent of a child; or
            (3)  is liable under a support order.
        "Register."  To record a support order or judgment
     determining parentage in the office designated by a court of
     common pleas.
        "Registering tribunal."  A tribunal in which a support order
     is registered.
        "Responding county."  A county to which a proceeding is
     forwarded under this part.
        "Responding tribunal."  The authorized tribunal in a
     responding county.
        "Secretary."  The Secretary of Public Welfare of the
     Commonwealth.
        "Spousal support order."  A support order for a spouse or
     former spouse of the obligor.
        "Support enforcement agency."  The department, a domestic
     relations section of a tribunal, a public official or a public
     agency authorized to seek:
            (1)  enforcement of support orders or laws relating to
        the duty of support;
            (2)  establishment or modification of child support;
            (3)  determination of parentage; or
            (4)  location of obligors or their assets.
        "Support order."  A judgment, decree or order, whether
     temporary, final or subject to modification, whether incidental
     to a pending divorce, for the benefit of a child, a spouse or a
     former spouse, which provides for monetary support, health care,
     arrearages or reimbursement. The term includes related costs and
     fees, interest, income withholding, attorney fees and other
     relief.
        "Title IV-D attorney."  The official in the appropriate
     county who, by statute, contract or appointment, has the duty to
     represent obligees in support actions brought in the county.
        "Tribunal."  A court of common pleas.
     (Dec. 16, 1997, P.L.549, No.58, eff. Jan. 1, 1998)

        1997 Amendment.  Act 58 amended the def. of "income-
     withholding order" in subsec. (b).