CHAPTER 1. DEFINITIONS
IC 31-18
ARTICLE 18. FAMILY LAW: UNIFORMINTERSTATE FAMILY SUPPORT ACT
IC 31-18-1
Chapter 1. Definitions
IC 31-18-1-1
Application of definitions
Sec. 1. The definitions in this chapter apply throughout thisarticle.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-2
"Child"
Sec. 2. "Child" means an individual who is:
(1) owed or alleged to be owed a duty of support by theindividual's parent; or
(2) the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent.
The term includes a child who is over the age of majority.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.97-2004,SEC.107.
IC 31-18-1-3
"Child support order"
Sec. 3. "Child support order" means a support order for a child,including a child who has attained the age of majority under the lawof the issuing state.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-4
"Duty of support"
Sec. 4. "Duty of support" means an obligation imposed or thatmay be imposed by law to provide support for a child, spouse, orformer spouse, including an unsatisfied obligation to providesupport.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-5
"Home state"
Sec. 5. "Home state" means:
(1) the state in which a child lived with a parent or a personacting as parent for at least six (6) consecutive monthsimmediately preceding the time of filing of a petition orcomparable pleading for support; and
(2) if a child is less than six (6) months of age, the state inwhich the child lived since birth with a parent or person actingas a parent.
A period of temporary absence of the child, parent, or person actingas a parent is included as part of the six (6) month period under
subdivision (1) or other period under subdivision (2).
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-6
"Income"
Sec. 6. "Income" means anything of value owed to an obligor.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-7
"Income payor"
Sec. 7. "Income payor" means an employer or other person whoowes income to an obligor.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-8
"Income withholding order"
Sec. 8. "Income withholding order" means an order or other legalprocess directed to an obligor's income payor to withhold:
(1) support; and
(2) support fees and maintenance fees as described inIC 33-37-5-6;
from the income of the obligor.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.148-2006,SEC.29.
IC 31-18-1-9
"Initiating state"
Sec. 9. "Initiating state" means a state in which a proceeding isforwarded or in which a proceeding is filed for forwarding to aresponding state under:
(1) this article or a law substantially similar to this article;
(2) the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act; or
(3) the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of SupportAct.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.213-1999,SEC.12.
IC 31-18-1-10
"Initiating tribunal"
Sec. 10. "Initiating tribunal" means the authorized tribunal in aninitiating state.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-11
"Issuing state"
Sec. 11. "Issuing state" means the state in which a tribunal issuesa support order or enters a judgment of paternity.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-12 "Issuing tribunal"
Sec. 12. "Issuing tribunal" means the tribunal that issues a supportorder or enters a judgment of paternity.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-13
"Law"
Sec. 13. "Law" includes decisional and statutory law and rulesand regulations having the force of law.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-14
"Obligee"
Sec. 14. "Obligee" means:
(1) an individual to whom a duty of support is owed or isalleged to be owed or in whose favor a:
(A) support order has been issued; or
(B) judgment determining paternity has been entered;
(2) a state or political subdivision to which the rights under aduty of support or support order have been assigned or that hasindependent claims based on financial assistance provided to anindividual obligee; or
(3) an individual seeking a judgment to establish paternity ofthe individual's child.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.213-1999,SEC.13.
IC 31-18-1-15
"Obligor"
Sec. 15. "Obligor" means an individual or the estate of a decedentwho:
(1) owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support;
(2) is alleged to be, but has not been adjudicated to be, a parentof a child; or
(3) is liable under a support order.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.213-1999,SEC.14.
IC 31-18-1-16
"Register"
Sec. 16. "Register" means to record a:
(1) support order; or
(2) judgment determining paternity;
in the appropriate location for the recording or filing of foreignjudgments generally or foreign support orders specifically.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-17
"Registering tribunal"
Sec. 17. "Registering tribunal" means a tribunal in which a
support order is registered.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-18
"Responding state"
Sec. 18. "Responding state" means a state to which a proceedingis filed or to which a proceeding is forwarded for filing from aninitiating state under:
(1) this article or a law substantially similar to this article;
(2) the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act; or
(3) the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of SupportAct.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.213-1999,SEC.15.
IC 31-18-1-19
"Responding tribunal"
Sec. 19. "Responding tribunal" means the authorized tribunal ina responding state.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-20
"Spousal support order"
Sec. 20. "Spousal support order" means a support order for aspouse or former spouse of the obligor.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-21
"State"
Sec. 21. "State" means:
(1) a state of the United States;
(2) the District of Columbia;
(3) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; or
(4) any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdictionof the United States.
The term includes an Indian tribe and a foreign jurisdiction that haveenacted a law or established procedures for issuing and enforcingsupport orders that are substantially similar to the procedures underthis article or the procedures under the Uniform ReciprocalEnforcement of Support Act or the Revised Uniform ReciprocalEnforcement of Support Act.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.213-1999,SEC.16.
IC 31-18-1-22
Repealed
(Repealed by P.L.213-1999, SEC.33.)
IC 31-18-1-23
"Support enforcement agency" Sec. 23. "Support enforcement agency" means a public official oran agency authorized to seek to:
(1) enforce a support order or laws regarding the duty ofsupport;
(2) establish or modify child support;
(3) establish paternity; or
(4) locate an obligor or the obligor's assets.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-24
"Support order"
Sec. 24. "Support order" means a judgment, a decree, or an order,whether:
(1) temporary;
(2) final; or
(3) subject to modification;
for the benefit of a child, a spouse, or a former spouse, whichprovides for monetary support, health care, arrearages, orreimbursement, and may include related costs and fees, interest,income withholding, attorney's fees, and other relief.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10.
IC 31-18-1-25
"Tribunal"
Sec. 25. "Tribunal" means a court, an administrative agency, or aquasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce, or modifysupport orders or to determine paternity. In referring to an Indianatribunal acting as an authorized responding court under this article,the term means a court that is authorized to establish, enforce, ormodify support orders or establish paternity but does not include anadministrative agency or a quasi-judicial entity.
As added by P.L.1-1997, SEC.10. Amended by P.L.213-1999,SEC.17.