federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) was authorized to promulgate forms that
are routinely used. These include a General Testimony and Affidavit in Support of Establishing
Paternity. They serve the purpose of providing evidence in the absence of the nonresident
party. There is nothing in the UIFSA that prohibits use by private practitioners and the forms
are readily available from the OCSE website.
UCCJEA UIFSA SECTION 111. TAKING TESTIMONY IN
ANOTHER STATE.
(a) In addition to other procedures available to a party, a party to a child-custody proceeding may offer testimony of witnesses who are located in
SECTION 316. SPECIAL RULES OF EVIDENCE AND PROCEDURE.
(a) The physical presence of the [petitioner] a nonresident party who is an individual in a
another State, including testimony of the parties and the child, by deposition or other means allowable in this State for testimony taken in another State. The court on its own motion may order that the testimony of a person be taken in another State and may prescribe the manner in which and the terms upon which the testimony is taken.
(b) A court of this State may permit an individual residing in another State to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means before a designated court or at another location in that State. A court of this State shall cooperate with courts of other States in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(c) Documentary evidence transmitted from another State to a court of this State by technological means that do not produce an original writing may not be excluded from
evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
SECTION 210. APPEARANCE OF PARTIES AND CHILD.
(a) In a child-custody proceeding in this State, the court may order a party to the proceeding who is in this State to appear before the court in person with or without the child. The court may order any person who is in this State and who has physical custody or control of the child to appear in person with the child.
(b) If a party to a child-custody proceeding whose presence is desired by the court is outside this State, the court may order that a notice given pursuant to Section 108 include a statement directing the party to appear in person with or without the child and informing the party that failure to appear may result in a decision adverse to the party.
(c) The court may enter any orders necessary to ensure the safety of the child and of any person ordered to appear under this section.
(d) If a party to a child-custody proceeding who is outside this State is directed to appear under subsection (b) or desires to appear personally before the court with or without the child, the court may require another party to pay reasonable and necessary travel and other expenses of the party so appearing and of the child.
SECTION 310. HEARING AND ORDER.
(c) If a party called to testify refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-
incriminating, the court may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.
the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining parentage.
(b) A verified [petition], An affidavit, a document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, and or a document incorporated by reference in any of them, which would not be excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under oath penalty of perjury by a party or witness residing in another State.
(c) A copy of the record of child-support
payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were made.
(d) Copies of bills for testing for parentage, and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least [ten] days before trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary.
(e) Documentary evidence transmitted from another State to a tribunal of this State by telephone, telecopier, or other means that do not provide an original writing record may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(f) In a proceeding under this [Act], a tribunal of this State may shall permit a party or witness residing in another State to be deposed or to testify under penalty of perjury by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location in that State. A tribunal of this State shall cooperate with tribunals of other States in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(g) If a party called to testify at a civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.
(h) A privilege against disclosure of
communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this [Act].
(I) The defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a proceeding under this [Act].
(j) A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, certified as a true copy, is admissible to establish parentage of the child.
(d) A privilege against disclosure of
communications between spouses and a defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child may not be invoked in a proceeding under this [article].
SECTION 210. APPLICATION OF [ACT] TO NONRESIDENT SUBJECT TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION.
A tribunal of this State exercising personal jurisdiction over a nonresident in a proceeding under this [Act], under other law of this State relating to a support order, or recognizing a support order of a foreign country or political subdivision on the basis of comity may receive evidence from another State pursuant to Section 316, communicate with a tribunal of another State pursuant to Section 317, and obtain discovery through a tribunal of another State pursuant to Section 318. In all other respects, Articles 3 through 7 do not apply and the tribunal shall apply the procedural and substantive law of this State.