Hearings and Studies in Another State; Orders to Appear

Hearings and Studies in Another State; Orders to Appear. (a) The Commonwealth Trial Court may request the appropriate court of another state to hold a hearing to adduce evidence, to order a party to produce or give evidence under other procedures of that state, or to have social studies made with respect to the custody of a child involved in proceedings pending in the Commonwealth Trial Court; and to forward to the Commonwealth Trial Court certified copies of the transcript of the record of the hearing, the evidence otherwise adduced, or any social studies prepared in compliance with the request. The cost of the services may be assessed against the parties or, if necessary, ordered paid by the Commonwealth government. (b) The Commonwealth Trial Court may request the appropriate court of another state or order a party to custody proceedings pending in the Commonwealth Trial Court to appear in the proceedings, and if that party has physical custody of the child, to appear with the child. The request may state that travel and other necessary expenses of the party and of the child whose appearance is desired will be assessed against another party or will otherwise be paid. Source: PL 3-50, § 20. Commission Comment: Section 4 of PL 6-25, the “Commonwealth Judicial Reorganization Act of 1989,” provides that “[w]herever the term ‘Commonwealth Trial Court’ appears in the Commonwealth Code, it is henceforth to be interpreted and understood to refer to the Commonwealth Superior Court.”