CSE Abroad

DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION IN THIS CIRCULAR RELATING TO THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN COUNTRIES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE TOTALLY ACCURATE IN A PARTICULAR CASE. QUESTIONS INVOLVING INTERPRETATION OF SPECIFIC FOREIGN LAWS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN LEGAL COUNSEL.

This flyer provides step-by-step guidance, general information about new developments and reference resources for parents, attorneys and child support professionals about international child support enforcement. We hope that you find the material informative.

There is no treaty in force between the United States and any other country pertaining to the enforcement of child support orders or any other court decrees. New measures to negotiate reciprocal arrangements with other countries are now being pursued. Considerable work has been done by states in the United States which have entered into reciprocal enforcement arrangements with some foreign countries. The first step in the complicated process of obtaining child support enforcement abroad is to contact the office of child support enforcement in your state (See Appendix C). Your local child support enforcement office can provide information about the aggressive techniques now available to pursue enforcement, including garnishment of wages and federal income tax refunds, revocation of licenses, direct contact with foreign employers, criminal enforcement proceedings, etc. If the person owing the child support is employed abroad for a U.S.-based company, or for the U.S. government, new provisions in the child support enforcement laws provide a number of steps to obtain enforcement. In addition, it may be possible to initiate formal enforcement proceedings in accordance with local (foreign) law. These options are explained in detail below. For more information about other significant innovations in U.S. child support enforcement laws, contact your state office of child support enforcement, or consult the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) home page on the Internet at http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/CSE/. For a discussion of reciprocal arrangements for international child support enforcement and a list of foreign central authorities, see Appendixes D and E.

1. Do Reciprocal Arrangements Exist With The Foreign Country? The Department of State is aware of the existing arrangements between states in the U.S. and the following foreign countries: Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Canada (by province) Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, N. Ireland). Your state may be working on arrangements with new countries. For details, contact your state child support enforcement office (generally known as state IV-D Agency, for Title IV-D of the 1975 Social Security Act which established HHS's Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program). Appendix D provides a summary of the process. Your state child support enforcement office should be able to explain how to apply for enforcement of your child support order in the foreign reciprocating country. In many states, the child support office will apply on your behalf. If your state child support officials are unfamiliar with the procedures, they may wish to contact authorities in states which process these requests on a regular basis, such as California, Texas or Illinois. These states have developed handbooks and bilingual forms for processing the requests and have regular contacts with their counterparts in the foreign countries.

2. Aggressive Measures Your State Can Take: New child support enforcement laws contain serious penalties against persons owing child support including revocation of licenses, liens, garnishment of wages and attachment of income tax refunds. Contact your state child support enforcement office (Appendix C) for information.

3. Criminal Enforcement Procedures: Contact your state child support enforcement office (Appendix C) about new criminal enforcement procedures. There have been new developments in the use of these procedures in international cases. On May 11, 1997, the state of Massachusetts, working with Interpol, succeeded in having a child support fugitive from its "most wanted" list, who was the subject of an outstanding warrant, deported from the Dominican Republic and arrested on arrival in the United States. Your state child support enforcement office may wish to contact the Massachusetts office of child support enforcement for details. See also the Massachusetts "most wanted" home page on the Internet at http://www.state.ma.us/cse/.

4. Initiating Foreign Enforcement Proceedings Under Local Law: If no reciprocal arrangement exists, and the aggressive measures discussed in step 2 are in applicable, it may be necessary for you to initiate a child support enforcement action in the courts in the foreign country. This usually will require retaining the services of an attorney abroad (See Steps 5 and 6). The Department of State, Office of American Citizens Services is not a repository for foreign laws. However, selected information may be available concerning general procedures on child support enforcement in particular countries. Contact the Office of American Citizens Services to see if such information is available.

5. Retaining a Foreign Attorney: Some foreign attorneys are willing to proceed on a contingency basis, charging no fee for services until the child support is collected. A list of English speaking attorneys is available from the U.S. State Department Office of American Citizens Services. See also our general information flyer, "Retaining A Foreign Attorney" (AUTOFAX Document 1027 or via our home page on the Internet under "judicial assistance".) See also the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory available in law libraries. It may be helpful to provide your foreign attorney with copies of any state laws concerning reciprocal enforcement of child support orders with foreign states, including foreign countries (UIFSA, RURESA, URESA, etc.)

6. Legal Aid: Some countries provide legal aid services in child support cases. The legal attache or consular section of the foreign embassy in Washington, D.C. may have specific guidance. For addresses and phone numbers of foreign embassies in Washington, see the heading "entry requirements" in our country specific consular information sheets via our autofax service or our Home Page on the Internet. Legal aid information may also be available from a local branch of the International Social Service. The ISS' headquarters are in Geneva, Switzerland, but information or assistance may be available through its New York branch at 10 W. 40th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018, 212-532-6350. See also our flyer "Retaining a Foreign Attorney", available via our home page on the Internet or our autofax service for other reference sources on legal aid.

7. Authentication and Translation of Documents: It may be necessary for you to provide foreign authorities or your attorney with authenticated, translated copies of your child support order and any other pertinent documents. Consult your foreign attorney before going to this expense. An information flyer explaining the authentication process is available from the Office of American Citizens Services, through our automated fax system or via our Home Page. These topics include "Hague Legalization Convention" (AUTOFAX document 1053) and "General Authentication Flyer" (AUTOFAX document 1046). See also the U.S. State Department's Authentications Office Home Page at http://www.state.gov/www/authenticate/index.html.

8. Service of Process: If you need to serve process on a person abroad in connection with a child support case, you may obtain copies of our country specific judicial assistance flyers on this subject through our automated fax service or via our Home Page on the Internet. See also, "Service of Process Abroad" (AUTOFAX document 1215), "Hague Service Convention" (AUTOFAX document 1049), "Inter-American Letters Rogatory Service Convention" (AUTOFAX document 1208), and "Preparation of Letters Rogatory" (AUTOFAX document 1045).

9. U.S.-Based Private Employment Abroad: If the parent from whom you are seeking child support enforcement works for a private U.S.-based employer, ask your local child support enforcement office about procedures for garnishment of wages.

10. Foreign-Based Private Employment Abroad: State child support enforcement offices in Texas advise they have found it useful to pursue all possible avenues to attempt to collect child support from the person in the foreign country, including contacting the individual's foreign employer, including the president of the company, providing authenticated, translated copies of outstanding court orders, warrants, etc. Business directories such as Standard and Poors (http://www.stockinfo.standardpoor.com/), Dunn & Bradstreet (http://www.dbisna.com/dbis/dbishome.htm) or similar publications may provide resource information concerning addresses of the corporate headquarters of foreign companies. Contact your state child support enforcement office for guidance on this process.11. U.S. Military Service Members Abroad: If the parent from whom you are seeking child support enforcement is an employee of the U.S. military abroad or a U.S. military retiree abroad, contact the local office of child support enforcement for assistance in coordinating with the appropriate U.S. military offices cited below.Garnishment: Contact the general information operator at the Pentagon, Tel: 703-545-6700 to reach the appropriate Judge Advocate General's Office. See also, A Guide to Child Support Enforcement Against Military Personnel, (February 1996), Administrative and Civil Law Department, Legal Assistance Branch, The Judge Advocate General's School, U.S. Army, Charlottesville, VA 22093-1781, http://www.jagc.army.mil/jagc2.htm and Barber, Soldiers, Sailors and the Law, Family Advocate, ABA Family Law Section, Vol. 9, No. 4, 38, 41 (Spring 1987). Service of Process on Military Personnel: Contact the Judge Advocate General's Office for the particular branch of the service (See Air Force, Navy and Army JAG home pages at http://www.ja.hq.af.mil;  http://www.21taacom.army.mil/aerja/) See also, our general flyer, "Service of Process Abroad," which includes a discussion of this issue.Locating Military Personnel: See Sec. 363 of H.R. 3734, "Enforcement of Child Support Obligations of Members of the Armed Forces," requiring the Secretary of Defense to establish a centralized personnel locator service for members of the Armed Forces. At present, to locate U.S. military personnel abroad, contact the appropriate U.S. military locator service (Army: Commander, U.S. Army EREC, Army Worldwide Locator Service, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana 46249-5301; Tel: 317-542-4211); Air Force: Headquarters, AFMPC/DPMD003, Attn: Worldwide Locator; Randolph Air Force Base, TX 78150-6001, Tel: (210) 652-5774; Navy: Naval Military Personnel Command, Navy Annex, Washington, D.C. 20370; Tel: (202) 694-3155; Marine Corps: Commander of the Marine Corps, Code MMRB-10, Attn: Locator Service, Washington, D.C. 20380-0001, Tel: (202) 694-1610 and x1624; Coast Guard: Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Coast Guard Locator Service, GPE 3-45 (enlisted personnel), GPE2-42 (officers), 2100 2nd St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20593, Tel: (202) 267-1615 (enlisted); (202) 267-1667 (officers).Contacts: U.S. HHS Military Liaison: Office of Child Support Enforcement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Military Liaison 202-260-5830. Other Contact: The Military Family Resource Center, Ballston Towers No. 3, Suite 903, 4015 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203, tel: 703-696-4555.

12. U.S. Department of State Employees Abroad: On February 27, 1995, the President signed Executive Order 12953 that requires all Federal agencies, including the Department of State, to cooperate fully in efforts to establish paternity and in the collection of child and medical support from agency employees. See Department of State Notice dated 5/15/95 and Department of State Notice dated 6/23/95. See also, Section 172.2(d), FR, Vol. 57, No. 143, July 24, 1992, (22 CFR Part 172) (Touhy Regulations). But see, 22 C.F.R. 19.735-201 (ethical conduct); 22 C.F.R. 10.735-215(a) (conduct). See also, "The Foreign Service Family and Divorce," Department of State Publication 9914, Family Liaison Office, (M/DGP/FLO), Released April 1992.

Service of Process: The Department must make its employees stationed abroad available for service of process in state court civil cases concerning paternity and child support. This means employees may not use their diplomatic or consular status to avoid acceptance of service in such court actions. The Department will not accept papers or service of process on the employee's behalf, but it will require the employee to arrange an acceptable method for acceptance of service. The Department (L/DL) will waive diplomatic immunity if necessary. An employee who refuses to accept service in violation of this order may be subject to immediate curtailment of tour and to disciplinary action, as appropriate. The Department office responsible for facilitating availability for service of process on employees is the Office of Employee Relations, Conduct, Suitability and Discipline Staff (PER/ER/CSD), SA-6, Room 431, 1701 N. Ft. Myer Drive, Rosslyn, VA 22209, (703) 516-1674 or (703) 516-1837.

Garnishment: The Department will also garnish the wages of an employee to pay child support and alimony when served with court orders for garnishment. Send court orders for such garnishment to the Office of the Legal Adviser, Legislation Management, L/LM, Room 5425 N.S., Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, Tel: (202) 647-6668.

Contact(s): Office of Employee Relations, Conduct, Suitability and Discipline Staff (PER/ER/CSD), SA-6, Room 431, 1701 N. Ft. Myer Drive, Rosslyn, VA 22209, (703) 516-1674 or (703) 516-1837. Office of the Legal Adviser, Legislation Management, L/LM, Room 5425 N.S., Department of State, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, Tel: (202) 647-6668.

13. Other U.S. Government Employees Abroad: The salary of a federal government employee may be garnished for the purpose of enforcing a legal obligation to provide child support or alimony. (See 42 U.S.C. 659; 5 C.F.R. 580.101 et seq.) However, no garnishment procedures can be effectuated until evidence as to the legal obligation is furnished, such as a court order or decree. To ascertain procedures for garnishment of the salary of a federal employee other than U.S. military or U.S. Department of State described above, contact the Personnel Office or the Office of General Counsel of the employing agency. Your local child support enforcement office may be able to assist you with this process.

14. Locating the Absent Parent Abroad: Contact your local IV-D child support enforcement agency which will contact all appropriate sources for assistance in locating the absent parent, including the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), Office of Child Support Enforcement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 4th Floor East, Washington, D.C. 20447, Tel: 202-401-5367; Internet Home Page: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov. That Offices' services involve searching federal databases, including U.S. tax records, that have proven useful in cases involving an absent parent abroad. The U.S. State Department, Office of American Citizens Services cannot arrange for U.S. embassies or consulates abroad to conduct actual searches for the whereabouts of U.S. citizens abroad who may owe child support. If the person's whereabouts are completely unknown, and the FPLS is unable to locate the person through Federal databases, it may be necessary to retain private detectives through your local foreign counsel or other sources. (See Steps 5 and 18.)

15. Searching Passport and Embassy/Consulate Citizen Registration Records Abroad for the Absent Parent: Information regarding the whereabouts of U.S. citizens abroad, contained in passport records or U.S. Embassy/Consulate registration records abroad, is protected by the Privacy Act. For consideration of a request for release of such information from Embassy/Consulate registration records the state child support enforcement office must submit a written request to the Consular Section, American Citizens Services Section of the nearest U.S. Embassy/Consulate or to the U.S. State Department, Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Policy Review and Interagency Liaison (CA/OCS/PRI), Room 4817, 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, Tel: 202-647-3666, citing the specific law being enforced for which release of information is being requested under the law enforcement provisions of the Privacy Act. Direct requests for information from passport records to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Passport Services, Research and Liaison Branch (CA/PPT/TD/RL), Suite 510, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20522-1705, citing similar provisions.

16. Passport Issuance Restrictions For Persons Owing Child Support: Sections 370, 652(k) and 654(31) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) (Pub. L. 104-193), which amends 42 U.S.C. 452, the Secretary of State must deny a passport to a person who is in arrears of child support of more than $5,000 upon certification to that effect by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). The certification of the Secretary of HHS is based upon the certification by a state agency in accordance with Section 454(31) of the PRWORA. The effective date of Section 370 is October 1, 1997. For further information regarding HHS certification for purposes of passport denial, please contact your local child support enforcement agency or the Department of Health and Human Services, OCSE/DPO, 370 L'Enfant Plaza, 4th Floor East, Washington, D.C. 20447, tel: 202-401-5367; Internet Home Page: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov. U.S. passports cannot be denied to based on requests from private individuals. There are, however, passport regulations (22 CFR Section 51.70, et seq.) under which a person's passport will be denied or revoked when the U.S. Secretary of State is notified by a competent authority that the person is subject to a criminal court order forbidding his or her departure from the United States. Such a request must be made by an appropriate law enforcement agency to the Department of State, Office of Citizenship Appeals and Legal Assistance (PPT/PAS), Suite 260, 1111 19th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20622, tel: 202-955-0231.

17. New Measures In Progress: On August 22, 1996, the President signed into law "The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996" (Pub. L. 104-193), which includes provisions regarding international child support enforcement. The PRWORA designates the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Child Support Enforcement as the U.S. Central Authority to facilitate child support enforcement. Section 371, Section 659A and Section 654(32) of the Act provide that the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized to "declare any foreign country to be a foreign reciprocating country if the foreign country has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support owed to persons who are residents of the United States." Accordingly, the Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement will be proceeding with discussions with specific foreign countries on this subject, and discussions on bilateral agreements. On September 5, 1997, Ireland was declared a foreign reciprocating country in compliance with 42 U.S.C. 659A by the Acting Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Moreover, on September 5, 1997, the Acting Secretary of State delegated authority to the Department of State Legal Adviser and the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs with regard to declaration of foreign countries to be reciprocating countries under Section 371 of P.L. 104-193 and the conclusion of related Executive Agreements. Under the provisions of the PRWORA, states may continue to enter into their own reciprocal agreements with other countries. The Department of State is also exploring the possibility of becoming party to a multilateral treaty on child support enforcement. For more information about this project, see the Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/PIL) Home Page on the Internet: http//his.com/ under Family Law projects.

18. Private Resources: The Department of State is aware that many private organizations now claim that they can assist in enforcing child support orders abroad. As a matter of policy, the Department does not comment on the bona fides of such organizations. However, before retaining the services of such an organization, U.S. citizens may wish to make appropriate inquiries with applicable state licensing offices, the Better Business Bureau, your local or state office of child support enforcement, or the attorney general's office of the state where the private organization is located.

Additional Information: The Office of American Citizens Services has available general information flyers on international judicial assistance many of which are available through our automated fax system or via our Internet Consular Affairs Home Page. These topics include country-specific information about service of process and obtaining evidence abroad.

1. Using the Autofax System:

* Dial (202) 647-3000 using the phone on your fax machine.

* Follow the prompt to obtain a printed index of judicial assistance topics. There are four indexes.

Travel Information - Index of Countries - Press 1

Passports and Visas - Index of Flyers - Press 2

Judicial Assistance - General and Country Specific - Press 3

Child Custody and Adoption - Index of Flyers - Press 4

* Enter the four digit code for the document desired as listed in the index.

* When the prompt identifies the document and asks if you want that document, enter Y (9) for yes or N (6) for no.

* If you want another document, enter the four digit code, using the same procedures noted in the previous step.

* When you finish selecting, press the # key on the phone keyboard and press the start button on your fax machine.

* After a brief delay of up to a minute, the documents will print automatically on your fax machine.

2. Using the Internet: Many of our judicial assistance flyers are also available on the Internet via the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs Home Page at http://travel.state.gov/ under "Judicial Assistance"or through the main State Department Home Page at http://www.state.gov/ under "Travel". See also, the Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/PIL) Home Page at http://his.com/ for information regarding private international law unification. See also the Home Pages for many of our embassies which are linked to the Consular Affairs Home Page.

QUESTIONS: Additional questions may be addressed to the appropriate geographic division of the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of American Citizens Services, Room 4817 N.S., 2201 C Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20520, tel: (202) 647-5225 or 202-647-5226.

APPENDIXES:

A. Selected References.

B. Resources for Child Support Enforcement Information.

C. State Child Support Enforcement Offices.

D. UIFSA/URESA and International Enforcement.

E. Foreign Country Contacts and Central Authorities.

F. Treaties and Other Agreements.

Ball, The Income Withholder's Role in Child Support, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Child Support Project, Center on Children and the Law, American Bar Association, (1991).

Ball & Sablan, Effective Use of Liens in Child Support Cases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Child Support Project, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, (1990).

Barber, "Soldiers, Sailors and the Law", 9 Family Advocate, 38-41 (1987).

Bird, Child Support: Reform or Tinkering, 25 Fam. L. 112 (1995).

Bradshaw, Department of Social Security, Support for Children: A Comparison of Arrangements in Fifteen Countries (HMSO, London) (1993).

Burch, The 1989 Inter-American Convention on Support Obligations, XL Amer. J. Comp. L. 817-864 (1992).

Cavers, "International Enforcement of Family Support", 81 Columbia Law Review, 994-1043 (1981).

Cavers, Draft Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations, 21 Amer. J. Comp. L. 154 (1973).

Castel, "Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments In Personam and In Rem in Common Law Provinces Of Canada, 17 McGill L.J. 11, 161-79 (1971).

DeHart, "Comity, Conventions and the Constitution", 28 Family L.Q., 89-115 (1994).

DeHart, "Getting Support Over There", 9 Family Advocate, 34-37, (1987).

DeHart, "International Enforcement of Child Support and Custody: Reciprocity and Other Strategies, ABA Section of Family Law Council Monograph, (1986).

DeHart, "Reaching Across International Boundaries", 2 Family Advocate, 27-29 (l979).

Developing Effective Procedures for Pro Se Modification of Child Support Awards, Landstreet and Takas, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Child Support Project, American Bar Association, Center on Children and the Law, (1991).

Harrison, Australia's Child Support Scheme, 15 Family Advocate, 28-29 (1993).

Harrison, Child Maintenance in Australia: The New Era in Economic Consequences of Divorce, Lenore Weitzman & Mavis MacLean, ed. (1992).

Haynes & Dodson, ed., Interstate Child Support Remedies, National Legal Resource Center for Child Advocacy and Protection, American Bar Association, Child Support Project, (1989).

Haynes, Ball & Sablan, Child Support: An Annotated Legal Bibliography: 1988 Supplement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement, Child Support Project, National Legal Resource Center for Child Advocacy and Protection, American Bar Association, January (1988).

Hewitt, Oz and the Art of Maintenance, Britain's Child Support Agency Is One Year Old, Independent, London, (April 5, 1994).

Karet, The International Enforcement of Matrimonial Financial Orders, 6 Int'l Legal Prac. 8 (1981).

Koenig, Courts in the Fax Lane: The Use of Facsimile Technology in State Courts, State Justice Institute Grant No. SJI-89-06F-B-023, Center for Public Policy Studies, Telephone Conferencing in Interstate Child Support Cases: Final Report, State Justice Institute Grant No. SJI-88-06E-G-059, (1990).

Krause, Child Support in America: The Legal Perspective, 10-18, 41-43 (1981).

Krause, Reflections on Child Support, 17 Fam. L.Q. 109-132 (1983).

Krauskopf, International Recognition and Enforcement of Family Law Judgments, 27 St. Louis B.J. 6 (1980).

Legler, The Coming Revolution in Child Support Policy: Implications of the 1996 Welfare Act, 30 Fam. L.Q. 519 (1996).

McLean, Recognition of Family Judgments in the Commonwealth 209 (1983).

Marks-Barnett, Enforcement of Foreign Support Orders, Judgments or Decrees, 52 Okla. B.J. 1801 (1981).

Nash, Foreign Child Support Judgments: Declarations of Reciprocity by States, Digest of United States Practice in International Law 1980, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, 499,502 (1986).

Nygh, Making the World a Better Place for Children, 19 Family Advocate (1997).

Oldham, Lessons from the New English and Australian Child Support Systems, 29 Vanderbilt J. of Transnat'l Law, 691, 735 (1996).

Paikin, Use of Teleconferencing in Interstate Child Support Cases, 13 Fairshare 12 (July 1993).

Pfund, Cumulative Digest of United States Practice in International Law, 1981-1988, Vol. III, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, 3695-3697 (December 1995).

Sampson & Kartz, UIFSA, An Interstate Support Act for the Century, 27 Fam. L.Q. 85-173 (1993).

Saxon & Kane, The Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, Institute of Gov. Family Law Bulletin, Univ. N.C., Chapel Hill, (March 1996).

Schwartz, How to Collect Support from Overseas, Fairshare, 8 (March 1988).

2. The Office of Child Support Enforcement, Parent Locator Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, 4th Floor East, Washington, D.C. 20447, tel: 202-401-5367; Internet Home Page: http://www.acf.dhhs.gov.

3. Administration for Children and Families, Office of Child Support Enforcement, National Reference Center, Mail Stop OCSE/RC, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, D.C. 20447, tel: 202-401-9383. International Coordinator, tel: (202) 260-5943;

4. Regional Offices of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement:

Region I - CONNECTICUT, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, NEW HAMPSHIRE, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Room 2000, Boston, MA 02203, 617-565-2440

Region II - NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, PUERTO RICO, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Federal Building, Room 4048, 26 Federal Plaza, New York, NY 10278, 212-264-2890

Region III - DELAWARE, MARYLAND, PENNSYLVANIA, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, P.O. Box 8436, 2525 Market St., Rm. 4119, MS/15, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-596-4136

Region IV - ALABAMA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, KENTUCKY, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH CAROLINA, SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, 101 Marietta Tower, Suite 821, Atlanta, GA 30323, 404-331-2180

Region V - ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, OHIO, WISCONSIN: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, 105 W. Adams St., 20th Floor, Chicago, IL 60603, 312-353-4237

Region VI - ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, NEW MEXICO, OKLAHOMA, TEXAS: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, 1200 Main Tower, Suite 1050, Mail Stop A2, Dallas, TX 75202, 214-767-3749

Region VII - IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, NEBRASKA: OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, 601 East 12th St., Federal Building, Suite 276, Kansas City, MO 64106, 816-426-3584

Region VIII - COLORADO, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, WYOMING, OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, Federal Office Building, Rm. 325, 1961 Stout Street, Denver, CO 80294, 303-844-3100

Region IX - ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, HAWAII, NEVADA, GUAM, OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, 50 United Nations Plaza, Mail Stop 351, San Francisco, CA 94102, 415-556-5176

Region X - ALASKA, IDAHO, OREGON, WASHINGTON, OCSE Program Manager, Administration for Children and Families, 2201 Sixth Avenue, Mail Stop RX-70, Seattle, WA 98121, 206-615-2547

5. The National Reciprocal and Family Support Enforcement Association, 400 N. Capital Street, Suite 370, Washington, D.C. 20001, tel: 202-624-8180.

6. The Military Family Resource Center, Ballston Towers No. 3, Suite 903, 4015 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22203, tel: 703-696-4555.

7. The Office of Child Support Enforcement, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Military Liaison 202-260-5830.

8. ABA Center on Children and the Law, 740 15th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20005, tel: 202-662-2200. Access information on children and the law through the Center's Home Page: http://www.abanet.org:80/child/home.html for details about current projects.

9. ABA Section of Family Law, American Bar Association, 750 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611, 312-988-5000, http://www.abanet.org/family/home.html.

(Note: If you do not have access to the Internet, you may wish to contact your local public library for assistance to use their equipment to contact your state child support enforcement office via the Internet.)

Alabama: Department of Human Resources, Division of Child Support, 50 Ripley Street, Montgomery, AL 36130-1801; tel: 334-242-9300; fax: 334-242-0606; 1-800-284-4347

Alaska: Child Support Enforcement Division, 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 310, Anchorage, AK 99501-6699, tel: 907-269-6900; fax: 907-269-6914; 

Arizona: Division of Child Support Enforcement, 3443 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012, tel: 602-252-4045; 1-800-882-4151 

Arkansas: Office of Child Support Enforcement, P.O. Box 8133, Little Rock, AR 72203, Street Address: 712 West Third, Little Rock. AR 72201; tel: 501-682-8398; fax: 501-682-8398; 1-800-247-4549 

California: Office of Child Support, Department of Social Services, 744 P Street - Mail Stop 17-29, Sacramento, CA 95814; tel: 916-654-1532; 1-800-952-4253 (California Only)

Colorado: Division of Child Support Enforcement, 1575 Sherman Street, 2nd Floor, Denver, CO 80203-1714, tel: 303-866-5994; fax: 303-866-2214 

Connecticut: Department of Social Services, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, 25 Sigourney Street, Hartford, CT 06105-5033; tel: 203-566-1830; fax: 203-951-2996; 1-800-228-5437 (problems); 1-800-647-8872 (information); 1-800-698-0572 (payments), 1-800-228-KIDS (most wanted)

Delaware: Division of Child Support Enforcement, Deleward Health and Social Services, 1901 North Dupont Hwy, P.O. Box 904, New Castle, DE 19720; tel:

302-577-4863; fax: 302-577-4873,

District of Columbia: Office of Paternity and Child Support Enforcement, Department of Human Services, 613 G Street NW, 10th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001; tel: 202-724-8800; fax: 202-724-5154.

Florida: Child Support Enforcement Program, Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 8030, Tallahassee, FL 32314-8030; tel: 904-922-9590; fax: 904-488-4401; 1-800-622-5347

Georgia: Child Support Enforcement, 2 Peachtree Street, N.W., Suite 15-107, P.O. Box 38450, Atlanta, GA 30334-0450; tel: 404-657-3851; fax: 404-657-3326; 1-800-227-7993

Guam: Department of Law, Child Support Enforcement Office, 238 Archbishop F.C. Flores, 7th Floor, Agana, GU 96910, tel: 011-671-475-3360.

Hawaii: Child Support Enforcement Agency, Department of Attorney General, 680 Iwilei Rd., Suite 490, Honolulu, HI 96817; 808-587-3698

Idaho: Bureau of Support Services, Department of Health and Welfare, 450 West State Street, 5th Floor, Boise, ID 83720-5005; 208-334-5710; fax: 208-334-0666;1-800-356-9868

Illinois: Child Support Enforcement Division, Illinois Department of Public Aid, 201 South Grand Avenue East, Springfield, IL 62763-0001; 217-524-4602; fax: 217-524-4608; 1-800-447-4278

Indiana: Child Support Bureau, 402 West Washington Street, Room W360, Indianapolis, IN 46204, 317-232-4894; fax: 317-233-4925; 1-800-622-4932

Iowa: Bureau of Collections, Department of Human Services, Hoover Building, 5th Floor, Des Moines, IA 50319, 515-281-5580; 515-281-4597

Kansas: Child Support Enforcement Program, Department of Social and Rehabilitative Services, P.O. Box 497, Topeka, KS 66601; Street Address: 300 S.W. Oakley Street, Biddle Building, Topeka, KS 66606; 913-296-3237; fax: 913-296-5206; 1-800-432-0152 (withholding); 1-800-570-6743 (collections); 1-800-432-3913 (fraud hotline)

Kentucky: Division of Child Support Enforcement, Cabinet for Human Resources, 275 East Main Street, 6th Floor East, Frankfort, KY 40621; tel: 502-564-2285; fax: 502-564-5988; 1-800-248-1163 

Louisiana: Support Enforcement Services, Office of Family Support, P.O. Box 94065, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-4065; 504-342-4780; fax: 504-342-7397; 1-800-256-4650 (payments)

Maine: Division of Support Enforcement and Recovery, Bureau of Income Maintenance, Department of Human Services, State House, Station 11, Whitten Road, Augusta, ME 04333; 207-287-2886; fax: 207-287-5096; 1-800-371-3101

Maryland: Child Support Enforcement Administration, Department of Human Resources, 311 West Saratoga Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, tel: 410-767-7619; fax: 410-333-8992; 1-800-332-6347; 1-800-638-3912 

Massachusetts: Child Support Enforcement Division, Department of Revenue, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139-1937; 617-577-7200; fax: 617-621-4991; 1-800-322-2733

Michigan: Office of Child Support, Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 30037, Lansing, MI 48090, 235 South Grand Ave, Suite 1406, Lansing, MI 48933; 517-373-7570; fax: 517-373-4980

Minnesota: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Human Services, 444 Lafayette Road, 4th Floor, St. Paul, MN 55155-3846, tel: 612-296-2542; fax: 612-297-4450

Mississippi: Division of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 352, Jackson, MS 39205; Street Address: 750 N. State Street, Jackson MS 39202; 601-359-4500; fax: 601-359-4415; 1-800-948-4010

Missouri: Department of Social Services, Division of Child Support Enforcement, 227 Metro Dr., P.O. Box 1527, Jefferson City, MO 65102-1527, tel: 314-751-4301; fax: 314-751-8450; 1-800-859-7999

Montana: Child Support Enforcement Division, Department of Public Health and Human Services, P.O. Box 202943, Helena, MT 59620-4943, Street Address: 3075 North Montana Avenue, Helena, MT 59601; tel: 406-442-7278; fax: 406-444-1370; 1-800-346-5437

Nebraska: Child Support Enforcement Office, Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509; Street Address: 301 Centennial Mall S., 5th Floor, Lincoln, NE 68509; tel: 402-471-9103; fax: 402-471-9455; 1-800-831-4573

Nevada: Child Support Enforcement Program, Nevada State Welfare Division, 2527 North Carson St., Carson City, NV 89610, tel: 702-687-4744; 1-800-922-0900

New Hampshire: Office of Child Support Division of Human Services, Health and Human Services Bldg., 6 Hazen Dr., Concord, NH 03301, tel: 603-271-4787; fax: 603-271-4787; 1-800-852-3345, ext. 4427 

New Jersey: Division of Family Development, Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child Support and Paternity Programs, CN 716, Trenton, NJ 08625-0716; tel: 609-588-2915; fax: 609-588-2354; 1-800-621-5437

New Mexico: Child Support Enforcement Bureau, Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 25109, Santa Fe, NM 87504; Street Address: 2025 S. Pacheco, Santa Fe, NM 87504, tel: 505-827-7200; fax: 505-827-7285; 1-800-432-6217

New York: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 14, Albany, NY 12260; Street Address: One Commerce Plaza, Albany, NY 12260; tel: 518-474-9081; fax: 518-486-3127; 1-800-342-2009; 1-800-846-0773 (account info)

North Carolina: Child Support Enforcement Section, Division of Social Services, Department of Human Resources, 100 East Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27609-7750; tel: 919-571-4114; fax: 919-571-4126; 1-800-992-9457

North Dakota: Department of Human Services, Child Support Enforcement Agency, P.O. Box 7190, Bismarck, ND 58507; tel: 701-328-3582; fax: 701-328-5497; 1-800-755-8530

Ohio: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Human Services, 30 East Broad St., 31st Fl., Columbus, OH 43266-0423; tel: 614-752-6561; fax: 614-752-9760; 1-800-686-1556

Oklahoma: Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 53552, Oklahoma City, OK 73125; Street Address: 2409 N. Kelley Ave, Annex Bldg, Oklahoma City, OK 73111; tel: 405-522-2753; fax: 405-522-2753; 1-800-522-2922,

Oregon: Recovery Services Section, Adult and Family Services Division, Department of Human Resources, P.O. Box 14170, Salem, OR 97309; Street Address: 260 Liberty St. N.E., Salem, OR 97309

Pennsylvania: Bureau of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Public Welfare, P.O. Box 8018, Harrisburg, PA 17105; tel: 717-787-3672; fax: 717-787-9706; 1-800-932-0211

Puerto Rico: Child Support Enforcement, Department of Social Services, P.O. Box 3349, San Juan, PR 00902-9938, Street Address: Majagua Street, Bldg. 2, Wing 4, 2nd Floor, Miramar, PR 00902-0038; tel: 809-722-4731; fax: 809-723-6187.

Rhode Island: Rhode Island Child Support Services, Department of Human Services, 77 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903; tel: 401-277-2847; fax: 401-277-6674; 1-800-922-0536

South Carolina: Department of Social Services, Child Support Enforcement Division, P.O. Box 1469, Columbia, S.C. 29202-1469, Street Address: 3150 Harden St., Columbia, S.C. 29202-1469; tel: 803-737-5870; fax: 803-737-6032; 1-800-768-5858

South Dakota: Office of Child Support Enforcement, Department of Social Services, 700 Governor's Drive, Pierre, DS 57501-2291; tel: 605-773-3641; 605-773-3165; fax: 605-773-4855; fax: 605-773-6834

Tennessee: Child Support Services, Department of Human Services, Citizens Plaza Bldg, 12th Floor, 400 Deadrick St., Nashville, TN 37248-7400; tel: 615-741-2441; fax: 615-532-2791; 1-800-874-0530

Texas: Office of the Attorney General, State Office Child Support Division, P.O. Box 12017, Austin, TX 78711-2017; tel: 512-463-2181; fax: 512-479-6478; 1-800-252-8014,

Utah: Bureau of Child Support Services, Department of Human Services, P.O. Box 45011, Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0011; tel: 801-536-8500; fax: 801-536-8509; 1-800-257-9156

Vermont: Office of Child Support, 103 South Main St., Waterbury, VT 05671-1901; tel: 802-241-2319; fax: 802-244-1483; 1-800-786-3214 

Virgin Islands: Paternity and Child Support Division, Department of Justice, GERS Bldg, 2nd Floor, 48B-50C Krondprans Gade, St. Thomas, VI 00802; tel: 809-774-5666; fax: 809-774-9710.

Virginia: Division of Support Enforcement, Department of Social Services, 730 East Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219; tel: 804-692-2458; 804-692-1428; fax: 804-692-1405; 1-800-468-8894

Washington: Support Enforcement Division, DSHS, P.O. Box 9162, Olympia, WA 98507-9162, Street Address: 712 Pear St., S.E., Olympia, WA 98507; tel: 206-586-3162; fax: 206-586-3274; 1-800-457-6202 

West Virginia: Child Support Enforcement Division, Department of Health and Human Resources, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. East, Capitol Complex, Bldg 6, Rm 817, Charleston, WV 25305; tel: 304-558-3789; 1-800-249-3778

Wisconsin: Division of Economic Support, P.O. Box 7935, Madison, WI 53707-7935, Street Address: 1 West Wilson St., Room 382, Madison, WI 53707; tel: 608-266-9909; fax: 608-267-2824 

Wyoming: Child Support Enforcement, Department of Family Services, Hathaway Bldg, 2300 Capital Ave., Cheyenne, WY 82002-0710; tel: 307-777-7631; fax: 307-777-7631; fax: 307-777-7747; 1-800-457-3659

International reciprocal enforcement has been based exclusively on parallel unilateral policy declarations or determinations to avoid violating the prohibition of the United States Constitution with regard to compacts by the States of the United States with foreign powers. (See Vol. III, Cumulative Digest of United States Practice in International Law, 1981-1988, U.S. Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser, 3695-3697 (1995); Nash, Foreign Child Support Judgments: Declarations of Reciprocity by States, Digest of United States Practice in International Law 1980, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State, 499,502 (1986). Section 101(19) (definitions) of UIFSA amendments of 7/18/96 provides that the term "state" includes a foreign jurisdiction that has enacted a law or establishes procedures for issuance and enforcement of support orders which are substantially similar to the procedures of UIFSA, URESA or RURESA. The states generally determine whether reciprocity is possible based on the following standards: 1) the country will enforce the child support obligation, collect the money and send it to the requesting state, whether or not there is an existing order; 2) the order will be enforced if recognizable under the laws and procedures of the country, and if it is not recognized or no order exists, an order or its equivalent will be obtained; 3) the system will deal with both in and out of wedlock children, and a determination of paternity will be made if possible in the circumstances; 4) each country will use its own laws and procedures; 5) there will be no means test for legal services, and no charge for legal assistance or the services of government offices or personnel.

HOW STATES PROCESS RECIPROCAL CASES: To satisfy the requirement of URESA/RURESA that a copy of the "state's" reciprocal act accompany the petition, a summary of the laws applicable to the enforcement of support was developed, by the foreign country involved. Where the language was not English, bilingual forms were created. The forms are now being revised with the assistance of many of the 20 countries with which the state reciprocal arrangements now exist. Finally, each country has designated an agency to act as a "Central Authority" to supervise the arrangement and ensure that petitions are processed and to provide assistance locating absent parents in arrears for child support when possible. Petitions, whether to or from the United States, are transmitted through one of the official agencies. The bilingual forms must be used to transmit cases, and other documents must be translated into the language of the responding country. State child support enforcement offices should have these model forms available. If your state officials are not familiar with the process, they may wish to contact a state experienced in these procedures such as California, Texas or Illinois for sample bilingual forms. In the United States, these cases are handled through the public offices of the states for domestic child support cases -- almost always the state IV-D offices -- for both enforcement of U.S. cases abroad and enforcement of foreign cases in the U.S. (incoming and outgoing cases). Private counsel handling a case may refer the client to the state public agency, or, using the forms, forward the case through the state public agency. States may vary in how such cases are handled. The existence of this system does not, of course, preclude an applicant or counsel, public or private, from also retaining or associating with counsel in the responding country and proceeding directly, using normal court rules and procedures.

RECIPROCATING COUNTRIES: States in the U.S. now have reciprocating arrangements with the following countries: Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Canada (by province) Czech Republic, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom (England, Scotland, N. Ireland). This list may not be complete as states develop arrangements independently and new Federal initiatives progress. Check with your state child support enforcement agency, the National Child Support Enforcement Association or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement for new developments pertaining to a particular state or country. The possibility of such reciprocal arrangements has been discussed with a number of other countries throughout the world by a small group of state officials representing their individual states, the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA), and the Family Law Section of the American Bar Association (ABA). Under the provisions of the PRWORA, states may continue to enter into their own reciprocal agreements with other countries.

FEDERAL INITIATIVES: The Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Enforcement is now proceeding with discussions with specific foreign countries on reciprocal declarations and bilateral agreements. On September 5, 1997, Ireland was declared a foreign reciprocating country in compliance with 42 U.S.C. 659A by the Acting Secretary of State with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Moreover, also on September 5, 1997, the Acting Secretary of State delegated authority to the Department of State Legal Adviser and the Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs with regard to declaration of foreign countries to be reciprocating countries under Section 371 of P.L. 104-193 and the conclusion of related Executive Agreements. Discussions with other countries are underway as authorized by the PRWORA (Pub. L. 104-193) of 1996. The Department of State is also exploring the possibility of becoming party to a multilateral treaty on child support enforcement. For updates on the project, see the Department of State, Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law (L/PIL) Home Page on the Internet: http//www.his.com/ under Family Law projects.

AUSTRALIA: Attorney-General's Department, International Civil and Privacy Branch, National Circuit, Canberra, ACT 2600 Australia; tel: 011-61-6-250-6211; fax: 011-61-6-250-5939.

AUSTRIA: Federal Ministry of Justice, P.O. Box 63, A-1016 Vienna, Austria.

BERMUDA: The Family and Child Support Officer, Magistrates' Court, 23 Parliament Street, Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda.

CANADA: Competent Authorities in Canadian Provinces and Territories with Reciprocal Arrangements with U.S. States:

Alberta: Alberta Justice, Maintenance Enforcement, P.O. Box 2404, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5J 3Z7; tel: 1-403-422-5554; fax: 1-403-422-1215

British Columbia: Family Justice Programs Division, Reciprocal Program, #304-1175 Cook Street, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada V8V 4A1; tel: 1-604-356-1555; x1560; x1563; fax: 1-604-356-8902

Manitoba: Manitoba Justice, Maintenance Enforcement Program, Woodworth Building, 2nd Floor, 405 Broadway, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3C 3L6; tel: 1-204-945-7133; fax: 1-204-945-5449

New Brunswick: Registrar's Office, Court of Queen's Bench, Justice Bldg., Room 201, P.O. Box 6000, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada E3B 5H1; tel: 1-506-453-2452; fax: 1-506-453-7921

New Foundland/Labrador: Director of Support Enforcement, P.O. Box 2006, Corner Brook, New Foundland, Canada A3H 6J8; tel: 1-709-637-2608; 1-709-634-9518

Northwest Territories: Commissioner, Government of the N.W.T., P.O. Box 1320, Yellowknife, N.W.T., Canada X1A 2L9; tel: 1-403-873-7400; fax: 1-403-873-0223.

Nova Scotia: Courts and Registries Division, Department of Justice, P.O. Box 7, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2L6; tel: 1-902-424-4030; fax: 1-902-424-4556

Prince Edward Island: Maintenance Enforcement Office, 42 Water Street, P.O. Box 2290, Charlottetown, P.E.I., Canada C1A8C1; tel: 1-902-368-6010; fax: 1-902-368-0266

Ontario: Ministry of the Attorney General, Family Support Plan, London, 55 Yonge Street 3rd Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1J4; tel: 1-416-326-2556; fax: 1-416-326-2568

Quebec: Deputy Attorney General, Ministre de Justice, Government of Quebec, Direction de la loi sur l'administration et privee, 1200 Route De L'Englise 2 Etage, Sainte Foy, Quebec, Canada G1W4M1.

Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Justice, Maintenance Enforcement Office, P.O. Box 2077, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4P 4E8; tel: 1-306-787-8961; fax: 1-306-787-1420.

Yukon Territory: Maintenance Enforcement Program, P.O. Box 4066, Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada Y1A 3S9; tel: 1-403-667-5437; fax: 1-403-667-4116.

CZECH REPUBLIC: Central Office for International Legal Protection of Juveniles, Benesova 22, 602 00 Brno, Czech Republic. (Ustredi Pro Mezinarodne Pravni, Ochranu Mladeze).

FIJI: Attorney General, Attorney General's Chambers, Government Bldg., Suva, Fiji

FINLAND: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, c/o Embassy of Finland, Groot Hertoginnelaan 16, 2517 EG The Hague, The Netherlands; Mrs. Eila Kurki-Suonio, Legal Officer, Merikasarmi B 1, P.O.B. 176, Fin-00161, Helsinki, Finland.

FRANCE: Ministere de la Justice, Service des Affaires Europeenes et Internationales, Bureau L 1, 13 Place Vendome, 75042 Paris, Cendex 01, France.

GERMANY: Der Generalbundesanwalt beim Bundesgerichtshof, Zentrale Behorde, (Ministry of Justice Federal Prosecutor at the Federal Court of Justice), Neuenburger Strasse 15, 10969 Berlin, Germany

HUNGARY: Ministry of Justice, Igazsagugy Miniszterium, Ministry of Justice, Szalay U. 16, Budapest, Hungary.

IRELAND: Department of Equality and Law Reform, Mr. Michael Gleeson, 43-49 Mespil Road, Dublin 4, Ireland. (NOTE: On September 5, 1997, the U.S. Acting Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, designated Ireland a foreign reciprocating country in family support enforcement in compliance with the requirements of 42 U.S.C. 659A.)

JAMAICA: Child Services Division, 10A Chelsea Avenue, Kingston 10, Jamaica.

MEXICO: Secretaria de Relaciones Exteriores, Consultoria Juridica Homero #213, Piso 17, Col. Chapultepec Morales, Mexico, D.F., C.P. 11570, Tel: 011-525-254-73-18; 011-525-327-32-10; 011-525-254-73-16; Fax: 011-525-254-73-16

NEW ZEALAND: Secretary for Justice, Private Bag 180, Postal Center, Wellington, New Zealand.

NORWAY: National Insurance Office for Social Insurance Abroad, Child Support Division, Post boks 8138 Dep. N-0033, Oslo, Norway.

POLAND: Ministry of Justice, (Ministerstwo Sprawiedlivosci), Al. Ujazdowskie 11, 00950-Warsaw, Poland; Consul General, Republic of Poland, 1430 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610; or Pekao Trading Corporation, 2 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016.

SLOVAK REPUBLIC: Center for International Legal Protection of Children and Youth, Centrum pre medzinzrodno-pravnu, ochranu deti a mladeze, Pitalska 6, P.O. Box 57, 814 99 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.

SOUTH AFRICA: The Director-General, Departy of Justice, Attn: Diverse Legal Matters, Private Bag x81, Pretoria, South Africa 0001.

SWEDEN: Stockholm County Social Insurance Office, Enforcement Division, (Forsakringskassan, Stockholms Lan, Utlandsavdelningen), BDF, S-105 11 Stockholm, Sweden.

UNITED KINGDOM:

England and Wales: Reciprocal Enforcement of Maintenance, Lord Chancellor's

Department, Selborne House 54/60 Victoria St., London SW1E 6QW, U.K.

Scotland: The Scottish Courts, Administration, Hayweight House, 23 Lauriston St.,

Edinburgh EH3 9DQ, Scotland.

Northern Ireland: The Lord Chancellor's Department, Windsor House, Bedford

St., Belfast, BT2 7EA, Ireland.

1. Hague Conventions:

A. Hague Convention on Law Applicable to Obligations to Support Minor Children, 510 UNTS 161; 5 Am. J. Comp. L. 656 (1956). (IN FORCE: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey)

B. Hague Convention Concerning the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Involving Obligations to Support Minor Children (1956), 539 UNTS 27; 5 Am. J. Comp. L. 658; 856 UNTS 233; 865 UNTS 296. (IN FORCE: Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey. Czechoslovakia, Denmark and Hungary entered into force 11/29/72, but only with regard to each other. See 854 UNTS 219 (1973)).

C. Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Decisions Relating to Maintenance Obligations, 21 Am. J. Comp. L. 156 (1973). (IN FORCE: France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey).

2. United Nations Conventions and other Agreements or Instruments:

A. United Nations Convention on the Recovery Abroad of Maintenance (UNCRAM), "the New York Convention", 268 UNTS 3, No. 3850, (1956). (IN FORCE: Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, former Yugoslavia.)

B. U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989); U.N. Doc. A/44/25. (Article 27 (4) provides "states parties shall take all appropriate measures to secure the recovery of maintenance for the child from the parents or other persons having financial responsibility for the child, both within the State Party and from abroad. In particular, where the person having financial responsibility for the child lives in a State different from that of the child, States Parties shall promote the accession to international agreements or the conclusion of such agreements, as well as the making of other appropriate arrangements." No specific enforcement procedures.) The United States is a signatory, but not a party to the Convention (the Convention is not in force for the U.S.) IN FORCE: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Kyrgystan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norway, Oman, Palau, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Samoa (Western), San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmanistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yeman, Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

C. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). (Article 25 (1) and (2) contain general provisions regarding the right to an adequate standard of living and the right to special care and assistance for children. There are no specific enforcement procedures.) While it is not legally binding, the Universal Declaration offers a common standard applicable to all U.N. members, against which nations can measure treatment of citizens. VOTING IN FAVOR: Afghanistan, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, France, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Thailand (Siam), Sweden, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela.

3. Regional Conventions and Other Agreements:

A. Brussels Convention on Jurisdiction and Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (1968) and the parallel Lugano Convention on Jurisdiction and the Enforcement of Judgments in Civil and Commercial Matters (1988), aka "The Brussels-Lugano Conventions.

B. The InterAmerican Convention on Support Obligations, aka "The Montevideo Convention" (1989). (IN FORCE: Guatamala (2/5/96), Mexico) (7/29/94). The Convention entered into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of the second instrument of ratification.

C. The Rome Convention between Member States of the European Communities on the Simplification of Procedures for the Recovery of Maintenance Payments (1990).

D. Convention Between Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden Concerning Recovery of Maintenance Contributions, 268 UNTS 44, No. 6793 (1962).

4. Other Agreements or Instruments:

International Convenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966). (In force for the United States.) Article 23 (4) provides that "states parties to the present Covenant shall take appropriate steps to ensure equality of rights and responsibilities of spouses as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. In the case of dissolution, provision shall be made for the necessary protection of any children." The Covenant does not contain enforcement provisions. IN FORCE: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kyrgz Rep., Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Somalia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzebekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen (Aden), Yugoslavia, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

Treaty Databases on the Internet: Information on which countries are party to a particular treaty is available from the following databases:

United Nations (UN): http://www.un.org/ under Databases/Treaties at http://www.un.org/Depts/Treaty/;

Council of Europe (COE): http://www.coe.fr/eng/legaltxt/treaties.htm under Texts/Treaties http://www.coe.fr.80/eng/legaltxt/treaties.htm;

Organization of American States (OAS): http://www.oas.org/ under Public Information/Documents/Treaties at gopher://oasunix1.oas.org:70/11/pub/english/treaties.

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