Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 5.djvu/574

 108 STAT. 4064 PUBLIC LAW 103-383 —OCT. 20, 1994 (E) lead to the excessive relitigation of cases and to the establishment of conflicting orders by the courts of various jurisdictions, resulting in confusion, waste of judicial resources, disrespect for the courts, and a diminution of public confidence in the rule of law; and (4) among the results of the conditions described in this subsection are— (A) the failure of the courts of the States to give full faith and credit to the judicial proceedings of the other States; (B) the deprivation of rights of Uberty and property without due process of law; (C) burdens on commerce among the States; and (D) harm to the welfare of children and their parents and other custodians. (b) STATEMENT OF POLICY. —In view of the findings made in subsection (a), it is necessary to establish national standards under which the courts of the various States shall determine their jurisdiction to issue a child support order and the effect to be given by each State to child support orders issued by the courts of other States. (c) PURPOSES. —The piuposes of this Act are— (1) to facilitate the enforcement of child support orders among the States; (2) to discourage continuing interstate controversies over child support in the interest of greater financial stability and secure family relationships for the child; and (3) to avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict among State courts in the establishment of child support orders. SEC. 3. FULL FAITH AND CREDIT FOR CHILD SUPPORT ORDERS. (a) IN GENERAL. —Chapter 115 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1738A the following new section: "(a) GENERAL RULE.— The appropriate authorities of each State— "(1) shall enforce according to its terms a child support order made consistently with this section by a court of another State; and "(2) shall not seek or make a modification of such an order except in accordance with subsection (e). "(b) DEFINITIONS.— In this section: " 'child'means— "(A) a person under 18 years of age; and "(B) a person 18 or more years of age with respect to whom a child support order has been issued pursuant to the laws of a State. "'child's State' means the State in which a child resides. "'child support' means a payment of money, continuing support, or arrearages or the provision of a benefit (including payment of health insurance, child care, and educational expenses) for the support of a child. " 'child support order'—
 * § 1738B. Full fmth and credit for child support orders

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