Massachusetts General Laws ch. 209D sec. 6-607 – Contest of registration or enforcement
Section 6–607. Contest of registration or enforcement.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 209D sec. 6-607
- Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
(a) A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered support order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving 1 or more of the following defenses:
(1) the issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;
(2) the order was obtained by fraud;
(3) the order has been vacated, suspended or modified by a later order;
(4) the issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;
(5) there is a defense under the law of the commonwealth to the remedy sought;
(6) full or partial payment has been made;
(7) the statute of limitation under section 6-604 precludes enforcement of some or all of the alleged arrearages; or
(8) the alleged controlling order is not the controlling order.
(b) If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection (a), a tribunal may stay enforcement of a registered support order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered support order may be enforced by all remedies available under the law of the commonwealth.
(c) If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection (a) as to the validity or enforcement of a registered support order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.