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<section article="gfl" article_name="Family Law" number="10-1A-02" title_number="10" title_name="Support in General" subtitle_number="1A" subtitle_name="Affidavit of Support">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An affidavit of support may be executed in the manner provided under this section if:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a party is receiving child support enforcement services under Title IV, Part D, of the Social Security Act;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>paternity of the child has been established;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>a support conference has been conducted in which the Administration determined the amount of support in accordance with the child support guidelines provided in Title 12, Subtitle 2 of this article; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the support conference resulted in an agreement by the parties.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>The Administration shall set the amount of the support obligation in accordance with the guidelines.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Unless the Administration determines that application of the guidelines would be unjust or inappropriate in a particular case, the amount specified in the guidelines shall apply.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>In determining whether application of the guidelines is unjust or inappropriate, the Administration may consider the factors stated in § 12-202 of this article.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>If the Administration finds that application of the guidelines is unjust or inappropriate in a particular case, the Administration shall make a written finding on the record stating the reasons for departing from the guidelines.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>The Administration’s finding shall state:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the amount of child support that would have been required under the guidelines;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>how the affidavit of support varies from the guidelines;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>how the finding serves the best interests of the child; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>in cases in which items of value are conveyed instead of a portion of the support presumed under the guidelines, the estimated value of the items conveyed.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>An affidavit of support shall be completed on a standardized form developed by the Administration.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The completed affidavit of support form shall contain:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a statement that the executed affidavit of support is a legal document and constitutes a legal finding of a support obligation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>the date of the signed affidavit of support;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>the full names of the parties;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>the full name and birth date of each child for whom support is to be paid;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="v">
        <text>the support order amount, including an amount for current support, and an amount for arrears, if appropriate;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vi">
        <text>the frequency of child support to be paid, including the payment due date;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="vii">
        <text>a provision for making child support payments payable to the State disbursement unit;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="viii">
        <text>a provision for medical support;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ix">
        <text>a provision for immediate earnings withholding;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="x">
        <text>a statement that if the obligor becomes delinquent in fulfilling the child support obligation, any enforcement remedy provided in accordance with State and federal law may be applied;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xi">
        <text>a statement that it is the responsibility of each party under the affidavit of support to advise the Administration of any change of address, employment, or medical support;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xii">
        <text>a statement that the provisions of the affidavit of support are subject to review by the Administration for possible modification on request of any party;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xiii">
        <text>a statement that the provisions of the affidavit of support remain in effect until the first of the following events occurs:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>the child becomes an adult;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>the child dies;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>the child marries; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>the child becomes self-supporting;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="xiv">
        <text>a statement that the provisions of the affidavit of support remain in effect until superseded by:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>a court order; or</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>a subsequently executed affidavit of support;</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="xv">
        <text>any information that the Administration considers appropriate; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="xvi">
        <text>the signatures of all parties and the date of the signatures.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>Before completing an affidavit of support form, the parties shall be advised orally and in writing of the legal consequences of executing the affidavit and of the right to seek legal counsel.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Administration shall provide each party with a copy of the executed affidavit of support.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>An executed affidavit of support constitutes a legal finding of a support obligation, subject to the right of any party to:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>rescind the affidavit in writing to the Administration within 60 days after execution of the affidavit; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>challenge the affidavit of support in court on the basis of fraud, duress, or material mistake of fact or that the affidavit of support is not in accordance with the child support guidelines.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Within 30 days after expiration of the 60-day recission period specified in subsection (d)(1) of this section, the Administration shall file an affidavit of support with the clerk of a circuit court for approval by the court.</text>
  </level>
</section>
