RCW 26.21A.607: Initiation by department of social and health services of support proceeding under convention.

(1) In a support proceeding under this article, the department of social and health services of this state shall:

(a) Transmit and receive applications; and

(b) Initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of this state.

(2) The following support proceedings are available to an obligee under the convention:

(a) Recognition or recognition and enforcement of a foreign support order;

(b) Enforcement of a support order issued or recognized in this state;

(c) Establishment of a support order if there is no existing order including, if necessary, determination of parentage of a child;

(d) Establishment of a support order if recognition of a foreign support order is refused under RCW 26.21A.617(2) (b), (d), or (i);

(e) Modification of a support order of a tribunal of this state; and

(f) Modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(3) The following support proceedings are available under the convention to an obligor against which there is an existing support order:

(a) Recognition of an order suspending or limiting enforcement of an existing support order of a tribunal of this state;

(b) Modification of a support order of a tribunal of this state; and

(c) Modification of a support order of a tribunal of another state or a foreign country.

(4) A tribunal of this state may not require security, bond, or deposit, however described, to guarantee the payment of costs and expenses in proceedings under the convention.