Title 26 — Title 26 DOMESTIC RELATIONS

(1) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered support order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:(a) The issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;(b) The order was…

Confirmation of a registered support order, whether by operation of law or after notice and hearing, precludes further contest of the order with respect to any matter that could have been asserted at the time of registration.[ 2015 c 214 s 36; 2002 c 198 s 608.]Notes:Effective da…

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a child support order issued in another state shall register that order in this state in the same manner provided in RCW 26.21A.500 through 26.21A.535 if the order has not been registered. A petiti…

A tribunal of this state may enforce a child support order of another state registered for purposes of modification, in the same manner as if the order had been issued by a tribunal of this state, but the registered support order may be modified only if the requirements of RCW 26…

(1) If RCW 26.21A.560 does not apply, upon petition a tribunal of this state may modify a child support order issued in another state which is registered in this state if, after notice and hearing the tribunal finds that:(a) The following requirements are met:(i) Neither the chil…

If a child support order issued by a tribunal of this state is modified by a tribunal of another state that assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the uniform interstate family support act, a tribunal of this state:(1) May enforce its order that was modified only as to arrears and inte…

(1) If all of the parties who are individuals reside in this state and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of this state has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state's child support order in a proceeding to register that order.(2) A tribunal …

Within thirty days after issuance of a modified child support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order, and in each tribunal in which the party…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.21A.625, if a foreign country lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its child support order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal of this state may assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order and bind all individuals s…

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a foreign child support order not under the convention may register that order in this state under RCW 26.21A.500 through 26.21A.535 if the order has not been registered. A petition for modificatio…

In this article:(1) "Application" means a request under the convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.(2) "Central authority" means the entity designated by the United States or a f…

This article applies only to a support proceeding under the convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of this article is inconsistent with Articles 1 through 6 of this chapter, this article controls.[ 2015 c 214 s 47.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements…

The department of social and health services of this state is recognized as the agency designated by the United States central authority to perform specific functions under the convention.[ 2015 c 214 s 48.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements—Waiver—2015 c 214…

(1) In a support proceeding under this article, the department of social and health services of this state shall:(a) Transmit and receive applications; and(b) Initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of this state.(2) The follo…

(1) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In such a proceeding, the law of this state applies.(2) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a su…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this article, a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency seeking recognition of a convention support order shall register the order in this state as provided in Article 6 of this chapter.(2) Notwithstanding RCW 26.21A.250 and …

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this article, RCW 26.21A.520 through 26.21A.535 apply to a contest of a registered convention support order.(2) A party contesting a registered convention support order shall file a contest not later than thirty days after notice of the registr…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a registered convention support order.(2) The following grounds are the only grounds on which a tribunal of this state may refuse recognition and enforcement o…

If a tribunal of this state does not recognize and enforce a convention support order in its entirety, it shall enforce any severable part of the order. An application or direct request may seek recognition and partial enforcement of a convention support order.[ 2015 c 214 s 54.]…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement registered in this state.(2) An application or direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreeme…

(1) A tribunal of this state may not modify a convention child support order if the obligee remains a resident of the foreign country where the support order was issued unless:(a) The obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal of this state, either expressly or by defendin…

Personal information gathered or transmitted under this article may be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted.[ 2015 c 214 s 57.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements—Waiver—2015 c 214: See notes following RCW 26.21A.010.Denial of wa…

A record filed with a tribunal of this state under this article must be in the original language and, if not in English, must be accompanied by an English translation.[ 2015 c 214 s 58.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements—Waiver—2015 c 214: See notes following…

(1) For purposes of this article, "governor" includes an individual performing the functions of governor or the executive authority of a state covered by this chapter.(2) The governor of this state may:(a) Demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in…

(1) Before making a demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in this state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the governor of this state may require a prosecutor of this state to demonstrate that at least sixty…

This act takes effect January 1, 2007.[ 2006 c 96 s 1; 2002 c 198 s 906.]

In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.[ 2002 c 198 s 903.]Notes:Effective date—2002 c 198: See RCW 26.21A.900.

This act applies to proceedings begun on or after July 1, 2015, to establish a support order or determine parentage of a child or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support order, determination, or agreement, whenever issued or entered.[ 2015 c 214 s 60.]Notes:Eff…

Captions, part headings, and articles used in this act are not any part of the law.[ 2002 c 198 s 902.]Notes:Effective date—2002 c 198: See RCW 26.21A.900.