(a) General duty.--In a proceeding under this part, a support enforcement agency of this State, upon request:

(1) Shall provide services to a petitioner residing in a state.

(2) Shall provide services to a petitioner requesting services through a central authority of a foreign country as defined in paragraph (1) or (4) of the definition of "foreign country" in section 7101.1 (relating to definitions).

(3) May provide services to a petitioner who is an individual not residing in a state.

(b) Specific duties.--A support enforcement agency that is providing services to the petitioner shall do all of the following:

(1) Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of this State, another state or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the respondent.

(2) Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time and place for a hearing.

(3) Make a reasonable effort to obtain relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties.

(4) Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a notice in a record from an initiating, responding or registering tribunal, send a copy of the notice to the petitioner.

(5) Within two days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a communication in a record from the respondent or the respondent's attorney, send a copy of the communication to the petitioner.

(6) Notify the petitioner if jurisdiction over the respondent cannot be obtained.

(b.1) Registration.--A support enforcement agency of this State that requests registration of a child support order in this State for enforcement or for modification shall make reasonable efforts to do one of the following:

(1) Ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order.

(2) If two or more child support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, ensure that a request for a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction.

(b.2) Conversion.--A support enforcement agency of this State that requests registration and enforcement of a support order, arrears or judgment stated in a foreign currency shall convert the amounts stated in the foreign currency into the equivalent amounts in dollars under the applicable official or market exchange rates as publicly reported.

(b.3) Payment.--A support enforcement agency of this State shall request a tribunal of this State to issue a child support order and an income withholding order that redirect payment of current support, arrears and interest, if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state under section 7319 (relating to receipt and disbursement of payments).

(c) Fiduciaries.--This part does not create or negate a relationship of attorney and client or other fiduciary relationship between a support enforcement agency or the attorney for the agency and the individual being assisted by the agency.

(Dec. 16, 1997, P.L.549, No.58, eff. Jan. 1, 1998; Dec. 28, 2015, P.L.559, No.94, eff. imd.)

1997 Amendment. Act 58 of 1997 was suspended by Pennsylvania Rule of Civil Procedure No. 1910.50(3), as amended May 31, 2000, insofar as it is inconsistent with Rule No. 1910.20 relating to the availability of remedies for collection of past due and overdue support.