2014 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
Title 23 - DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 71 - General Provisions
Section 7101 - Short title of part and definitions

§ 7101. Short title of part and definitions.

(a) Short title of part.--This part shall be known and may be cited as the Uniform Interstate 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 under the law of the issuing state.

"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.

"Home state." The state in which a child lived with a parent or a person acting as parent for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the time of filing of a petition or comparable pleading for support and, if a child is less than six months old, the state in which the child lived from birth with any of them. A period of temporary absence of any of them is counted as part of the six-month or other period.

"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 law of this State.

"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 state." A state from which a proceeding is forwarded or in which a proceeding is filed for forwarding to a responding state under this part or a law or procedure substantially similar to this part, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

"Initiating tribunal." The authorized tribunal in an initiating state.

"Issuing state." The state 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 state or 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:

(1) that owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;

(2) that is alleged but has not been adjudicated to be a parent of a child; or

(3) that 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 state." A state in which a proceeding is filed or to which a proceeding is forwarded for filing from an initiating state under this part or a law or procedure substantially similar to this part, the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act.

"Responding tribunal." The authorized tribunal in a responding state.

"Secretary." The Secretary of Public Welfare of the Commonwealth.

"Spousal support order." A support order for a spouse or former spouse of the obligor.

"State." A state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. The term includes an Indian tribe and a foreign jurisdiction that has enacted a law or established procedures for issuance and enforcement of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures under this part or Part VIII-A (relating to intrastate family support).

"Support enforcement agency." A public official or 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, 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.

"Tribunal." A court, administrative agency or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce or modify support orders or to determine parentage.

"Tribunal of this State." A court of common pleas.

(Dec. 16, 1997, P.L.549, No.58, eff. Jan. 1, 1998)

1997 Amendment. Act 58 amended the defs. of "income-withholding order," "initiating state," "responding state" and "state" in subsec. (b).

References in Text. The Department of Public Welfare, referred to in this section, was redesignated as the Department of Human Services by Act 132 of 2014.

Cross References. Section 7101 is referred to in sections 4302, 4308.1 of this title.