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Determination of Controlling Order
and Reconciliation of Arrears
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 3
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 1: INITIAL REVIEW OF AN EXISTING CASE, OR RECEIVING A NEW CASE........................................................................................................ 5
DCO, FLOWCHART 1 .................................................................................................................................. 6 DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 1 ............................................................. 7 DCO T ABLE 1, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS................................................................................... 8
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 2: JURISDICTION REVIEW ................. 9
DCO, FLOWCHART 2 ................................................................................................................................ 10
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 2 .......................................................... 11
DCO T ABLE 2, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS................................................................................. 12
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 3: CONTROLLING ORDER ANALYSIS / DETERMINATION .................................................................................................................................... 13
DCO, FLOWCHART 3 ................................................................................................................................ 14
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 3 .......................................................... 15
DCO T ABLE 3, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS................................................................................. 16
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 4: NOTICE OF DETERMINATION..... 17
DCO, FLOWCHART 4 ................................................................................................................................ 18
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 4 ........................................................... 19 DCO T ABLE 4, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS..................................ERROR! B OOKMARK NOT DEFINED.
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 5: INITIAL DETERMINATION FROM ANOTHER STATE...................................................................................................................................... 20
DCO, FLOWCHART 5 ................................................................................................................................ 21
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 5 ........................................................... 22
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 6: FINAL DETERMINATION FROM ANOTHER STATE...................................................................................................................................... 23
DCO, FLOWCHART 6 ................................................................................................................................ 24
- DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA) OVERVIEW
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA), TABLE 1: OBTAINING NECESSARY INFORMATION
- ROA, FLOWCHART 1................................................................................................................................
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA), TABLE 1.................................................................................
- ROA T ABLE 1, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.................................................................................
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA), TABLE 2: C ALCULATING THE TOTAL O WED
- ROA, FLOWCHART 2................................................................................................................................
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA), TABLE 2................................................................................
- ROA T ABLE 2, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.................................................................................
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA), TABLE 3: NOTIFYING INTERESTED PARTIES
- ROA, FLOWCHART
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS (ROA), TABLE 3................................................................................
- ROA T ABLE 3, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.................................................................................
- SAMPLE DEBT CALCULATION SHEET ..................................................................................................
- RECONCILIATION OF ARREARS, ENDNOTES
DETERMINATION OF
CONTROLLING ORDER
(DCO), Table 1: Initial
Review of an Existing
Case, or Receiving a New
Case
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 1
A. Use this process any time you are reviewing an existing case, when you receive a new case or when you receive information about multiple orders on a case.
B. Check the Federal Case Registry information to see if other states have flagged the case with notice that they have an order. You should also check your case’s computer history to see if there are multiple orders in your own state. Check application or referral information to determine if there are multiple orders. Contact both the obligor and obligee to see if there is other order information.
C. Determine whether there is an order for the same family unit.
D. If there are no orders for the case, you must establish one.
E. Determine whether more than one order exists for the same family unit. If it cannot be determined, enforce until notice of multiple orders is received.
F. If there is only one order, that order should be enforced. Also If it cannot be determined that there is more than one order, enforce the known order until notice of multiple orders is received.
G. Once you determine that there are multiple orders for the case, you must obtain copies of all orders. You can obtain copies either directly from states’ court systems; use CSEnet, or make a request to the IV-D agency handling the county in which the order is entered.
DCO Table 1, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. Do we have to obtain certified copies of all orders?
A1. No. For a controlling order determination, you do not have to have certified copies of orders.
Q2. Do you have to register all orders in order for the tribunal to consider making a DCO?
A2. No, registration of all orders is not required.
Q3. Must we gather all orders and can we only request orders that contain or set a determinable support obligation that is prospectively enforced?
A3. You must gather any and all orders which order support, regardless of whether that order is being prospectively enforced.
DCO: JURISDICTION REVIEW
Flowchart 2
Table 3
A. Copies of all orders received?
C. Do you have jurisdiction to do a determination of controlling order?
D. Initiate action to do a determination of controlling order.
B. Contact IV-D agency in other states.
E. Interstate transmittal 2 to state with jurisdiction; recommend controlling order; request DCO
Yes
Yes
No
No
DCO, FLOWCHART 2
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 2
A. If you determine that there are multiple orders for the case, you must obtain copies of all orders. You can obtain copies either directly from states’ court systems; use CSEnet, or make a request to the IV-D agency where the order is entered. Check to see that you have received copies of all orders.
B. If you have not yet received copies of all orders, contact the IV-D agency in the Order State to see if they can assist you.
C. Once you have copies of all orders, determine whether you have jurisdiction to do a controlling order determination. To have jurisdiction, you must have either personal jurisdiction over both parties, or you must have personal jurisdiction over one party and a request or interstate referral from the other.
D. If you have jurisdiction to do the determination of controlling order, initiate action to do so.
E. If you do not have jurisdiction to do the determination of controlling order, send interstate transmittal #2 to the state with jurisdiction. Be sure to make a recommendation about which order you believe is the controlling order (see Table 3), and make it clear that you are requesting that they do a determination. Be sure to include copies of all orders, pay records, analysis and any documentation you used to make your recommendation.
DETERMINATION OF
CONTROLLING ORDER
(DCO), Table 3: Controlling
Order Analysis /
Determination
DCO, FLOWCHART 3
DCO: CONTROLLING ORDER
ANALYSIS / DETERMINATION
Flowchart 3
A. Multiple orders exist. Analyze case and orders.
B. Is there an order in the child's home state?
C. The order issued in the child's home state is the controlling order.
D. Is there an order in the obligee's state?
E. Is there an order in the obligor's state?
F. The most recently issued order is the controlling order.
Table 4
G. The order issued in the obligee's state is the controlling order.
H. Is there an order in the obligor's state?
I. The order issued in the obligor's state is the controlling order.
J. No order controls; establish new controlling order.
Table 4
Table 4
Table 4 Table 4
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Yes
DCO Table 3, FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q1. When examining all of the orders on a case, should you also look at the time frame in which the order was entered and make a determination about its validity?
A1. No. All orders should be afforded full faith and credit. There should be presumption for all orders that the tribunal had jurisdiction when entering them.
Q2. When an order from another state is registered in the home state of the child, obligee or obligor, is it considered an order issued in that state?
A2. No.
DETERMINATION OF
CONTROLLING ORDER
(DCO), Table 4: Notice of
Determination
DETERMINATION OF CONTROLLING ORDER (DCO), TABLE 4
A. Once you have identified the controlling order (or you have identified that there is no controlling order and a new one must be established), prepare a notice of your determination. The notice should include information about all of the orders which were considered, what your determination was and why, and the effect of your determination on other orders. The notice should also include any appeal or contest rights of the parties.
B. Serve your notice of determination on all parties. Mail the notice to all states with an order (send it to the Central Registry for the state).
C. Check to see if a contest to your determination is received.
D. If a contest is received, check to see if the party/state objecting has new or additional information to consider, including information about other orders.
E. If new or additional information is provided, analyze the information and orders again, and make a new determination of controlling order, if appropriate.
F. If no new or additional information is provided, submit the objection to the tribunal in your state with the authority to decide the issue.
G. When the tribunal with jurisdiction to decide the controlling order makes its final determination, mail a certified copy of the determination to all states with an order.
H. If no objection or contest to the determination is received, finalize your determination. Mail a copy of your final determination to all states with an order.
I. Check to see if your state has one of the orders.
J. If your state does not have an order, take whatever action is appropriate to enforce the controlling order.
K. If your state has one of the orders, determine whether it is the controlling order.
L. If your state’s order is not the controlling order, make certain that the tribunal with the non-controlling order is notified to stop accrual on the order.
M. If your state’s order is the controlling order, take whatever action is appropriate to enforce the controlling order.
DETERMINATION OF
CONTROLLING ORDER
(DCO), Table 5: Initial
Determination from
Another State
