Isabel M. v. Thomas M.

164 Misc. 2d 420, 624 N.Y.S.2d 356, 1995 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 93
CourtNew York City Family Court
DecidedMarch 3, 1995
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 164 Misc. 2d 420 (Isabel M. v. Thomas M.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York City Family Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Isabel M. v. Thomas M., 164 Misc. 2d 420, 624 N.Y.S.2d 356, 1995 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 93 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1995).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Alma Cordova, J.

This case raises an issue of first impression as to whether the enactment of the Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act (FFCCSOA) (28 USC § 1738B, Pub L 103-383) supersedes the Uniform Support of Dependents Law (USDL) article 3-A of the Domestic Relations Law.

These cross objections were made to an order of dismissal [422]*422entered by the Hearing Examiner on December 12, 1994. As follows, petitioner’s objections are denied and this USDL proceeding is thereby dismissed.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Petitioner mother, Isabel M., filed the underlying petition on October 19, 1993 in Florida seeking an order of support for one child, from respondent father Thomas M. who now resides in New York.

Prior to the commencement of this proceeding, the parties lived in Pennsylvania with their five children. On August 19, 1992, a divorce decree was entered which provided that petitioner shall have custody of four of the children and respondent shall have custody of one child. An order of child support in the amount of $250 per week was entered.

On or about August 1992, petitioner relocated to Florida with the four children. Sometime thereafter in late 1992, the parties’ minor children, with the exception of the youngest child, moved back to Pennsylvania to live with respondent. To date, respondent maintains dual residency in Pennsylvania and in New York. Respondent’s four children also live in Pennsylvania.

On or about January 8, 1993, a modification of the support order was granted inasmuch as respondent was supporting four children. This modification was affirmed by the Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania.

On or about January 14, 1994, petitioner filed an appeal to the Superior Court in Pennsylvania which was subsequently denied in August 1994.

On October 20, 1994, Congress enacted the FFCCSOA which requires that State courts afford "full faith and credit” to child support orders issued in other States and refrain from modifying or issuing contrary orders except in limited circumstances.

Respondent, thereafter, made an oral motion to dismiss the petition pursuant to the above statute. Both parties were directed to submit memoranda of law.

After the submission of memoranda of law by the parties, the Hearing Examiner dismissed the petition holding as follows: "pursuant to directive dated November 23, 1994 by Administrative Judge of the Uni[fi]ed Court System the 'Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act’ supersedes the [423]*423provisions of New York’s USDL to the extent that the USDL provides broader authority for courts to modify.” Additionally, the Hearing Examiner held that the order and modification were fully litigated by the parties in Pennsylvania which continues to have jurisdiction pursuant subdivisions (c) and (d) of 28 USC § 1738B; and that the court in New York does not have the authority to modify the order of support pursuant to subdivision (e) of said statute.

Petitioner now objects on two grounds. First, petitioner claims that she has the right to apply for a new order of support and pursue other remedies under the USDL (Domestic Relations Law art 3-A); second, petitioner states that the FFCCSOA does not apply since it was not intended to be retroactive and since petitioner is not seeking to modify the order.

Respondent, in agreement with the Hearing Examiner’s decision, submits that the Pennsylvania courts have expressly retained jurisdiction by the fact that there was a pending appeal; and that the newly enacted statute supersedes New York’s USDL and should be applied retroactively.

THE LAW

An analysis of the two acts which appear to be in conflict— the USDL (Domestic Relations Law art 3-A) and the FFCCSOA (28 USC § 1738B) — is discussed below.

1. Uniform Support of Dependents Law.

The USDL was enacted originally in 1949 and revised and added to Domestic Relations Law article 3-A in 1958. The USDL provides procedures for the enforcement of familial support obligations when the obligor is located in a State, or county within New York, different from the dependents. (Domestic Relations Law § 30; Sobie, Practice Commentaries, McKinney’s Cons Laws of NY, Book 14, Domestic Relations Law § 30, at 168.) It is New York’s equivalent to the Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (URESA) and the Revised Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support Act (RURESA) which, in one form or the other, is in effect in every State, except New York. (Sobie, Practice Commentaries, op. cit.) Since there are essentially no differences between the three acts, there is reciprocity between New York and the other States. (Id.)

The purpose of the USDL is to provide a less costly and time-consuming method of enforcing familial support obliga[424]*424tions. (Sobie, Practice Commentaries, op. cit.) The petitioner does not need to go to the obligor’s State or county, nor does the petitioner need to use long-arm jurisdiction and a subsequent enforcement proceeding in a different State. (Id.) Moreover, the petitioner is not precluded from seeking other relief since the USDL specifically provides that article 3-A "shall be construed to furnish an additional or alternative civil remedy and shall in no way affect or impair any other remedy, civil or criminal, provided in any other statute and available to the petitioner in relation to the same subject matter.” (Domestic Relations Law § 41.)

2. Full Faith and Credit for Child Support Orders Act.

The FFCCSOA (28 USC § 1738B) was enacted by the United States Congress in 1994

"(1) to facilitate the enforcement of child support orders among the States;

"(2) to discourage continuing interstate controversies over child support in the interest of greater financial stability and secure family relationships for the child; and
"(3) to avoid jurisdictional competition and conflict among State courts in the establishment of child support orders.” (Pub L 103-383 § 2, 108 US Stat 4064.) Section 1738B (a) states that "The appropriate authorities of each State — (1) shall enforce according to its terms a child support order made consistently with this section by a court of another State; and (2) shall not seek or make a modification of such an order except in accordance with subsection (e).”

3. Preemption.

The question is whether a USDL proceeding falls within the umbrella of the FFCCSOA.

As noted above, a USDL proceeding is an additional or alternative remedy. (Barone v Hill, 148 AD2d 139, 141 [4th Dept 1989]; LaBoy v Hernandez, 131 AD2d 485 [2d Dept 1987].) It is not intended to modify or supersede any already existing support obligations and is not affected by any other support proceedings, orders or judgments (LaBoy v Hernandez, supra, at 485). Therefore, at first glance it seems that the USDL does not fit within the framework of section 1738B, since the Federal statute, by its terms, appears to contemplate only existing support orders.

However, further inspection of the statute leads to a different conclusion. In section 1738B (b), "modification” is defined [425]*425as "a change in a child support order

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Bluebook (online)
164 Misc. 2d 420, 624 N.Y.S.2d 356, 1995 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 93, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/isabel-m-v-thomas-m-nycfamct-1995.