Child Support Enforcement Abroad

What countries does the US have child support enforcement agreements with at the present time?

Since 1996, when Congress for the first time specifically authorized federal-level agreements regarding child support enforcement, the United States has entered into a number of reciprocal agreements, which do not require U.S. Senate advice and consent. Currently, the U.S. has Federal reciprocal arrangements in force with Australia, Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Branswick, Newfoundland/Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario; Czech Republic, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic. On May 19, 2000, the Department of State issued a Public Notice in the Federal Register (Vol. 65, Number 98, Page 31953) regarding international child support.

What is the authority for US federal child support agreements?

Section 459A(a) of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act ( 42.USC 659A(a) ) provides that the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized to "declare any foreign country (or a political subdivision thereof) to be a foreign reciprocating country if the foreign country has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support owed to persons who are residents of the United States, and such procedures are substantially in conformity with the standards prescribed under subsection (b)."

Section 459A(a) of Title IV-D of the Social Security Act ( 42.USC 659A(a) ) provides that the Secretary of State, with the concurrence of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is authorized to "declare any foreign country (or a political subdivision thereof) to be a foreign reciprocating country if the foreign country has established, or undertakes to establish, procedures for the establishment and enforcement of child support owed to persons who are residents of the United States, and such procedures are substantially in conformity with the standards prescribed under subsection (b)."

Is the US pursuing negotiations on child support agreements with other countries?

The U.S. has held discussions with over 30 countries since 1997. Negotiations are continuing with many of those countries at this time. Agreements in principle have been reached with Australia , the Netherlands, and Norway and procedures for finalizing these agreements are underway. The Department of State's Office of the Legal Adviser for Private International Law and the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Child Support Enforcement are proceeding with negotiations with a number of other countries.