Rule 1920.31.A - Joinder of Related Claims. Child and Spousal Support. Alimony. Counsel Fees. Expenses. Registration of Alimony. Registration of Foreign Decrees(a)(1) Any party to an alimony order/award may register the order/award with the domestic relations office. Upon registration, and notice to the opposing side, the order/award shall be enforced in the same manner as other support orders.(2) All orders for alimony may be subject to wage attachment consistent with Pa.R.Civ.P. 1910.21.(b)(1) Petitions to register, adopt and enforce foreign decrees as provided in 3705 of the Divorce Code shall be filed with the Prothonotary and shall contain the following: (i) identification of parties and their respective residences;(ii) a certified copy of the decree and any subsequent modifications; and(iii) a reference to laws of the issuing state which impact on enforcement of such decree.(2) Upon filing of the petition, the Family Court Administrator is authorized to issue, per curiam, a Rule to Show Cause why the prayer of the said petition should not be granted, returnable in not less than twenty (20) days. Each rule shall notify respondents that well pled facts of the petition will be admitted unless an answer specifically denying the same is filed by the close of court on the return date of the rule.(3) The petition shall be served in the same manner as in original process for divorce.(4) All well pled factual averments in the petition shall be deemed admitted unless an answer specifically denying the same is filed on the return date of the rule. The requirements of Pa.R.Civ.P. 1029 shall apply.(5) An answer to the petition for registration shall contain all defenses to the requested relief including those based upon jurisdiction and the law of the issuing state. Any statutes or applicable law upon which the respondent bases his defense shall be cited, and in the case of foreign statutes, a copy of the applicable statute shall be attached.(6) If no answer has been timely filed, the petitioning party, five (5) days after the return date, may move to have the rule made absolute, granting the prayer of the petition.(7) When an answer has been timely filed and any issue(s) raised in the petition and answer is (are) ripe for consideration, subject to the provisions of Pa.R.Civ.P. 206.7 any party may file a praecipe for determination in the form prescribed by C.C.R.C.P. 206.6 with a supporting brief. Responsive briefs shall be filed with fifteen (15) days of the filing of the praecipe for determination.(8) A decree granting registration and adoption of a foreign decree with respect to alimony or alimony pendente lite may be registered with the Domestic Relations Office in the same manner as provided in C.C.R.C.P. 1920.31.A. Chest. Cnty. Ct. Comm. Plea. R. 1920.31.A
Amended effective 6/13/2022.All requests for registration of an alimony or alimony pendente lite order/award must comply with C.C.R.C.P. 1910.17.A.(e), as amended.