40-5-189. Procedure to contest validity or enforcement of registered order. (1) A nonregistering party seeking to contest the validity or enforcement of a registered order in this state shall request a hearing within 20 days after the date of mailing or personal service of notice of the registration. A court hearing may be conducted by teleconferencing methods. A department hearing must initially be conducted by teleconferencing methods and is subject to the Montana Administrative Procedure Act. The nonregistering party may, pursuant to 40-5-190, seek to vacate the registration, to assert any defense to an allegation of noncompliance with the registered order, or to contest the remedies being sought or the amount of any alleged arrearages.
     (2) If the nonregistering party fails to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order in a timely manner, the order is confirmed by operation of law.
     (3) If a nonregistering party requests a hearing to contest the validity or enforcement of the registered order, the registering tribunal shall schedule the matter for hearing and give notice to the parties of the date, time, and place of the hearing.

     History: En. Sec. 41, Ch. 328, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 482, L. 1997; amd. Secs. 36, 100, Ch. 552, L. 1997.