7316 - Special rules of evidence and procedure.

     § 7316.  Special rules of evidence and procedure.        (a)  Physical presence.--The physical presence of the     petitioner in a responding tribunal of this State is not     required for the establishment, enforcement or modification of a     support order or the rendition of a judgment determining     parentage.        (b)  Hearsay exception.--A verified petition, affidavit or     document, substantially complying with federally mandated forms,     and a document incorporated by reference in any of them, not     excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is     admissible in evidence if given under oath by a party or witness     residing in another state.        (c)  Payment record.--A copy of the record of child support     payments certified as a true copy of the original by the     custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding     tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it and is     admissible to show whether payments were made.        (d)  Bills.--Copies of bills for testing for parentage and     for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child,     furnished to the adverse party at least ten days before trial,     are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges     billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary and     customary.        (e)  Transmission of documentary evidence.--Documentary     evidence transmitted from another state to a tribunal of this     State by telephone, telecopier or other means that do not     provide an original writing may not be excluded from evidence on     an objection based on the means of transmission.        (f)  Testimony.--In a proceeding under this part, a tribunal     of this State may permit a party or witness residing in another     state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual     means or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or     other location in that state. A tribunal of this State shall     cooperate with a tribunal of another state in designating an     appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.        (g)  Self-incrimination.--If a party called to testify at a     civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony     may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse     inference from the refusal.        (h)  Spousal communications.--A privilege against disclosure     of communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding     under this part.        (i)  Family immunity.--The defense of immunity based on the     relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not     apply in a proceeding under this part.        Cross References.  Section 7316 is referred to in sections     7202, 7206 of this title.