19-A M.R.S. §3007: Duties of the department as the support enforcement agency

1. Services to petitioner. The department, upon request, shall provide services to a petitioner in a proceeding under this chapter.

2. Duties. If the department provides services to the petitioner, the department shall:

A. Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of this State or 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 2 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written notice in a record from an initiating, responding or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner;

E. Within 2 days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a written communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner; and

F. Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent can not be obtained.

2-A. Registration; reasonable efforts. If the department requests registration of a child support order in this State for enforcement or for modification, the department shall make reasonable efforts:

A. To ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or

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

2-B. Conversion of amounts to dollars. If the department requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears or judgment stated in a foreign currency, the department 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.

2-C. Issuance upon request. The department shall issue or 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 pursuant to section 3019.

3. No attorney or fiduciary relationship. This chapter does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between the department or the attorney for the department and the individual being assisted by the department.