Qin v. Liu

The plaintiff, Chunrong Qin (wife), appeals from a judgment of the Probate and Family Court dismissing her contempt complaint against the defendant, Peikang Liu (husband), for nonpayment of child support. The complaint was dismissed by the judge sua sponte for lack of personal jurisdiction over the husband, a resident of South Carolina. Because we conclude that the court had jurisdiction over the husband under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, G. L. c. 209D, § 2-201(2), as then in effect, see St. 1995, c. 5, § 87, we reverse.

Background. The parties were divorced in New Hampshire in…