Me. Rev. Stat. » Title 19-A
Maine Revised Statutes

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 3203 (2026)

Contest of registration or enforcement

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1.  Defenses to contest validity or enforcement.  A party contesting the validity or enforcement of a registered support order or seeking to vacate the registration has the burden of proving one or more of the following defenses:  
A. The issuing tribunal lacked personal jurisdiction over the contesting party;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
B. The order was obtained by fraud;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
C. The order has been vacated, suspended or modified by a later order;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
D. The issuing tribunal has stayed the order pending appeal;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
E. There is a defense under the laws of this State to the remedy sought;   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
F. Full or partial payment has been made;   [PL 2003, c. 436, §40 (AMD).]
G. The statute of limitation under section 3153 precludes enforcement of some or all of the alleged arrearages; or   [PL 2003, c. 436, §40 (AMD).]
H. The alleged controlling order is not the controlling order.   [PL 2003, c. 436, §41 (NEW).]
[PL 2009, c. 95, §72 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
2.  Full or partial defense.  If a party presents evidence establishing a full or partial defense under subsection 1, a tribunal may stay enforcement of the registered support order, continue the proceeding to permit production of additional relevant evidence and issue other appropriate orders. An uncontested portion of the registered support order may be enforced by all remedies available under the laws of this State.  
[PL 2009, c. 95, §72 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
3.  Confirmation of order.  If the contesting party does not establish a defense under subsection 1 to the validity or enforcement of a registered support order, the registering tribunal shall issue an order confirming the order.  
[PL 2009, c. 95, §72 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 694, §B2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 436, §§40,41 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 95, §72 (AMD). PL 2009, c. 95, §87 (AFF).
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case (1 in the last 5 years), 2021–2021 · leading case: Patricia H. Parks Monteith v. George H. Monteith Jr., 2021 ME 40, 255 A.3d 1030.
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Patricia H. Parks Monteith v. George H. Monteith Jr., 2021 ME 40, 255 A.3d 1030. “” 19-A M.R.S. § 3203(1)(H); see 19-A M.R.S.”
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 3203(1)(H): 1 case
Patricia H. Parks Monteith v. George H. Monteith Jr., 2021 ME 40, 255 A.3d 1030. “” 19-A M.R.S. § 3203(1)(H); see 19-A M.R.S.”
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