Pennsylvania § 8311 - Special rules of evidence and procedure.

§ 8311. Special rules of evidence and procedure.

(a) Physical presence.--The physical presence of the petitioner in a responding tribunal is not required for the establishment, enforcement or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining parentage.

(b) Representation.--The interests of the Commonwealth in establishing and enforcing support orders shall be represented, where appropriate, by the county Title IV-D attorney in a proceeding brought before the responding tribunal.

(c) Hearsay exception.--A verified petition, affidavit or document, and a document incorporated by reference in any of them, not excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under oath by a party or witness.

(d) Payment record.--A copy of the record of support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it and is admissible to show whether payments were made.

(e) Bills.--Copies of bills for testing for parentage and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least ten days before trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary and customary.

(f) Transmission of documentary evidence.--Documentary evidence transmitted to a tribunal by telephone, telecopier or other means that do not provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.

(g) Testimony.--In a proceeding under this part, a tribunal may permit a party or witness to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location. Tribunals shall cooperate in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.