Sec. 307.

(1) In a proceeding under this act, a support enforcement agency of this state, upon request:

(a) Shall provide services to a petitioner residing in a state.

(b) Shall provide services to a petitioner requesting services through a central authority of a foreign country as described in section 102(e)(i) or (iv).

(c) May provide services to a petitioner who is an individual not residing in a state.

(2) A support enforcement agency of this state that is providing services to the petitioner shall do the following:

(a) Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of this state, another state, or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent.

(b) Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time, and place for a hearing.

(c) Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties.

(d) Within 5 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of notice in a record from an initiating, responding, or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner.

(e) Within 5 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, after receipt of communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner.

(f) Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.

(3) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration of a child-support order in this state for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts to do the following:

(a) Ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order.

(b) If 2 or more child-support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so.

(4) A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears, or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported.

(5) A support enforcement agency of this state shall request a tribunal of this state to issue a child-support order and an income-withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears, and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state under section 319.

(6) This act does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.

History: 2015, Act 255, Eff. Jan. 1, 2016