Journal Title
St. John's Law Review
Volume
71
Issue
1
First Page
1
Document Type
Article
Publication Information
1997
Abstract
The problems inherent in interstate child and spousal support enforcement have been lamented for at least a half century. The federal and state governments have taken numerous steps to enhance interstate establishment and collection of support. Two of the latest steps in this process were the 1992 promulgation of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act ("UIFSA") and the 1994 adoption of the federal Full Faith and Credit For Child Support Orders Act ("FFCCSOA"). The 1996 federal "welfare reform" bill' affected both of these statutes by requiring the states to pass UIFSA by January 1, 1998 and by amending FFCCSOA to achieve greater consistency with UIFSA.
Part I of this Article presents several hypothetical fact patterns that illustrate recurring problems in interstate support cases and applies UIFSA and FFCCSOA to each pattern. This Part identifies several scenarios where the application of these statutes generates conflicting or inequitable results and suggests possible solutions based upon principles of statutory interpretation, existing case law, and public policy considerations. Part II of this Article, based upon these applications of the statutes, proposes clarifying amendments to each.
Recommended Citation
Patricia Wick Hatamyar, Critical Applications and Proposals for Improvement of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act and the Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act, 71 St. John's L. Rev. 1 (1997).