(1) When a responding tribunal of this state receives a petition
or comparable pleading from an initiating tribunal or directly
pursuant to RCW 26.21A.200(2), it shall cause the petition or
pleading to be filed and notify the petitioner where and when it
was filed.
(2) A responding tribunal of this state, to the extent not
prohibited by other law, may do one or more of the following:
(a) Issue or enforce a support order, modify a child support
order, determine the controlling child support order, or
determine parentage;
(b) Order an obligor to comply with a support order,
specifying the amount and the manner of compliance;
(c) Order income withholding;
(d) Determine the amount of any arrearages, and specify a
method of payment;
(e) Enforce orders by civil or criminal contempt, or both;
(f) Set aside property for satisfaction of the support
order;
(g) Place liens and order execution on the obligor's
property;
(h) Order an obligor to keep the tribunal informed of the
obligor's current residential address, telephone number,
employer, address of employment, and telephone number at the
place of employment;
(i) Issue a bench warrant or writ of arrest for an obligor
who has failed after proper notice to appear at a hearing ordered
by the tribunal and enter the bench warrant or writ of arrest in
any local and state computer systems for criminal warrants;
(j) Order the obligor to seek appropriate employment by
specified methods;
(k) Award reasonable attorneys' fees and other fees and
costs; and
(l) Grant any other available remedy.
(3) A responding tribunal of this state shall include in a
support order issued under this chapter, or in the documents
accompanying the order, the calculations on which the support
order is based.
(4) A responding tribunal of this state may not condition
the payment of a support order issued under this chapter upon
compliance by a party with provisions for visitation.
(5) If a responding tribunal of this state issues an order
under this chapter, the tribunal shall send a copy of the order
to the petitioner and the respondent and to the initiating
tribunal, if any.
(6) If requested to enforce a support order, arrears, or
judgment or modify a support order stated in a foreign currency,
a responding tribunal of this state shall convert the amount
stated in the foreign currency to the equivalent amount in
dollars under applicable official exchange rates as publicly
reported.
[2002 c 198 § 305.]
NOTES:
Effective date -- 2002 c 198: See RCW 26.21A.900.