Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. Support, Custody, Visitation, and Related Provisions
40-4-210. Child support jurisdiction -- nonresident individual

40-4-210. Child support jurisdiction -- nonresident individual. (1) In a proceeding to establish or modify a child support order, a district court may acquire personal jurisdiction over a nonresident individual or the individual's guardian or conservator if:
(a) the individual is personally served with notice within this state in accordance with Rule 4(b), Montana Rules of Civil Procedure;
(b) the individual submits to the jurisdiction of this state by consent, by entering a general appearance, or by filing a responsive document that has the effect of waiving any contest to personal jurisdiction;
(c) the individual has resided with the child within this state;
(d) the child was adopted within this state when at least one parent was a resident;
(e) the individual resided in this state and provided prenatal expenses or support for the child;
(f) the child resides in this state as a result of the acts or directives of the individual;
(g) the individual engaged in sexual intercourse in this state and the child may have been conceived by that act of intercourse; or
(h) there is any other basis consistent with the constitutions of this state and the United States for the exercise of the personal jurisdiction.
(2) A district court shall recognize and, if petitioned to do so, enforce according to its terms a child support order issued by a court or administrative agency of another state if the order was made consistent with the full faith and credit provisions of 28 U.S.C. 1738B.
(3) A district court may not establish a subsequent child support order that conflicts with an existing order entitled to recognition under subsection (2) or, except as provided in subsection (6), modify an existing order entitled to recognition under subsection (2).
(4) In interpreting a child support order issued in another state, including the duration of current payments and other obligations of support, a district court shall apply the law of the issuing state.
(5) In an action to enforce arrears under a child support order issued in another state, a district court shall apply the statute of limitations of this state or of the issuing state, whichever provides the longer period of limitation.
(6) A district court has jurisdiction to modify a child support order issued by a court or administrative agency of another state only after meeting the requirements of 40-5-1065, 40-5-1067, and 40-5-1068 and the standards for modification of interstate support orders set out in 28 U.S.C. 1738B.
History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 459, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 52, Ch. 328, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 579, L. 1999.