§ 15701. Definitions
TITLE 8: FAMILY LAW AND PROBATE DIVISION 1: DOMESTICS RELATIONS § 15701. Definitions. In this Article: (a) “Application” means a request under the Convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority. (b) “Central authority” means the entity designated by the United States or a foreign country described in 8 CMC § 15102(e)(4) to perform the functions specified in the Convention. (c) “Convention support order” means a support order of a tribunal of a foreign country described in 8 CMC § 15102(e)(4). (d) “Direct request” means a petition filed by an individual in a tribunal of this state in a proceeding involving an obligee, obligor, or child residing outside the United States. (e) “Foreign central authority” means the entity designated by a foreign country described in 8 CMC § 15102(e)(4) to perform the functions specified in the Convention. (f) “Foreign support agreement”: (1) means an agreement for support in a record that: (i) is enforceable as a support order in the country of origin; (ii) has been: (A) formally drawn up or registered as an authentic instrument by a foreign tribunal; or (B) authenticated by, or concluded, registered, or filed with a foreign tribunal; and (iii) may be reviewed and modified by a foreign tribunal; and (2) includes a maintenance arrangement or authentic instrument under the Convention. (g) “United States central authority” means the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Source: PL 20-22 § 6 (Oct. 6, 2017), modified. Commission Comment: The Commission changed “Section” to “8 CMC §” in (b), (c), and (e) pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(g). The Commission renumbered (f)(1)(A)–(C) to (f)(1)(i)–(iii), and (f)(1)(ii)(i)–(ii) to (f)(1)(ii)(A)– (B) pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(a).
Source: CNMI Law Revision Commission