Mississippi § 93-25-307 - Duties of support enforcement agency.

§ 93-25-307. Duties of support enforcement agency.

In a proceeding under this chapter, a support enforcement agency of this state, upon request: Shall provide services to a complainant residing in a state; Shall provide services to a complainant requesting services through a central authority of a foreign country as described in Section 93-25-102(5) (A) or (D); and May provide services to a complainant who is an individual not residing in a state. Within two (2) 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 complainant; Within two (2) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, after receipt of a communication in a record from the defendant or the defendant’s attorney, send a copy of the communication to the complainant; and Notify the complainant if jurisdiction over the defendant cannot be obtained. A support enforcement agency of this state that is providing services to the complainant as appropriate shall: Take all steps necessary to enable an appropriate tribunal of this state, another state, or a foreign country to obtain jurisdiction over the defendant; Request an appropriate tribunal to set a date, time and place for a hearing; Make a reasonable effort to obtain all relevant information, including information as to income and property of the parties; 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 ensure that the order to be registered is the controlling order; or If two (2) or more child-support orders exist and the identity of the controlling order has not been determined, to ensure that a request for such a determination is made in a tribunal having jurisdiction to do so. A support enforcement agency of this state that requests registration and enforcement of a child-support order, arrearages 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 rate as publicly reported. 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, arrearages and interest if requested to do so by a support enforcement agency of another state pursuant to Section 93-25-319. This chapter 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.