1 88.3041 Duties of initiating tribunal.—

1. (1) Upon the filing of a petition or comparable pleading authorized by this act, an initiating tribunal of this state shall forward three copies of the petition and its accompanying documents or a comparable pleading and its accompanying documents:

   1. (a) To the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding state; or
   2. (b) If the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.
2. (2) If a responding state has not enacted this act or a law or procedure substantially similar to this act, a tribunal of this state may issue a certificate or other document and make findings required by the law of the responding state. If the responding state is a foreign jurisdiction, the tribunal may specify the amount of support sought and provide other documents necessary to satisfy the requirements of the responding state.

History.—s. 3, ch. 96-189; s. 20, ch. 97-170; s. 19, ch. 2011-92.

¹Note.—Section 81, ch. 2011-92, provides that “[e]xcept as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect upon the earlier of 90 days following Congress amending 42 U.S.C. s. 666(f) to allow or require states to adopt the 2008 version of the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, or 90 days following the state obtaining a waiver of its state plan requirement under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.” Section 19, ch. 2011-92, amended s. 88.3041, to read:88.3041 Duties of initiating tribunal.—(1) Upon the filing of a petition or comparable pleading authorized by this act, an initiating tribunal of this state shall forward the petition and its accompanying documents or a comparable pleading and its accompanying documents:(a) To the responding tribunal or appropriate support enforcement agency in the responding state; or(b) If the identity of the responding tribunal is unknown, to the state information agency of the responding state with a request that they be forwarded to the appropriate tribunal and that receipt be acknowledged.(2) If requested by the responding tribunal, a tribunal of this state shall issue a certificate or other document and make findings required by the law of the responding state. If the responding tribunal is in a foreign country, upon request the tribunal of this state shall specify the amount of support sought, convert that amount into the equivalent amount in the foreign currency under applicable official or market exchange rate as publicly reported, and provide any other documents necessary to satisfy the requirements of the responding foreign tribunal.