Paul McMurdie, Chair
1501 W. Washington St., Ste. 410
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 452-3252
[email protected]

The Family Court Improvement Committee unanimously voted to amend Rule 20 of the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure. The need to modify the rule is the ease of use of mandated federal forms in child-support enforcement.

The proposed amendment creates an exception to the general requirement in Ariz. R. Fam. Law P. 20(b)(7) that pleadings filed with the court be originals. The Central Registry of the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSS), like all IV D agencies, receives documents from other states connected with its responsibilities to assist them in establishing and enforcing child-support obligations. Some documents are received electronically, while others are received by regular mail. Once received, however, all are scanned to the DCSS’s database. With a decentralized workforce, both in DCSS and the Attorney General Office, electronic copies make the litigation process substantially more efficient. This request is consistent with A.R.S. § 25 1256 and OCSE PIQ 18 01 (Electronic Documents and Tribunals under UIFSA Section 316).

Would amend Rule 20 of the Ariz. R. Fam. L. P. to add a new (b)(9) allowing the filing of copies of certain federal forms for use in interstate cases in lieu of filing an original.

Filed: January 5, 2021

Comments must be submitted on or before Monday, May 3, 2021.

Replies must be submitted on or before Tuesday, June 1, 2021.