AT-05-03, Distribution of Federally Approved Standard Interstate Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Forms

ACTION TRANSMITTAL

AT-05-03

DATE: January 28, 2005

TO: State Agencies Administering Child Support Enforcement Plans under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act and Other Interested Individuals

SUBJECT: Distribution of Federally Approved Standard Interstate Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Forms

BACKGROUND: The last set of standard interstate CSE forms was distributed via OCSE-AT-00-11. In addition to publishing the required 60-day notice in the Federal Register in December 2003, we solicited comments from the CSE community to provide suggestions for form revisions. The comments we received were minor in nature. Some states asked that we keep changes to a minimum to avoid modifications to state automated systems. We did keep the changes to a minimum while keeping in mind the need to improve interstate case processing. Below are a few examples.

Several changes were made to the Uniform Petition:
- removed the Social Security Number; and
- combined determination of controlling order and reconciliation of arrears into one element.
Several changes were made to the Affidavit in Support of Establishing Paternity to:
- clarify “date mother got pregnant”;
- clarify “presumption of paternity under state law”;
- allow for identification of an individual petitioner who is not the natural mother or natural father; and
- add “biological” before father in the element of genetic testing.
Changes were made to the Locate Data Sheet in response to comments regarding the need to use automated data, whenever possible, rather than the paper form.
Clarifying language was added regarding the proper attachments to the Notice of Determination of Controlling Order, i.e., certified copies of the controlling order determination and any arrears reconciliation order.
The definition for IV-D case identifier has been changed to correlate with the standard definition described in DCL-04-42.
Inconsistent language has been corrected and check boxes and lines have been reformatted to add space and clarity.

REFERENCES: 42 U.S.C. 666(f) required all States to enact UIFSA by January 1, 1998. UIFSA, at section 311(b) requires the use of federally approved forms in interstate CSE proceedings. Tribal IV-D agencies are not required to use these forms.

EFFECTIVE DATE: These revised forms are effective January 31, 2005. States will need time to make system programming changes to automate the new forms. Therefore, please continue to honor previous forms and implement the revised ones as soon as possible. We will make these forms available at our web site in the near future.

INQUIRIES: ACF Regional Administrators

David H. Siegel.
Acting Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

cc: Tribal IV-D Agencies