What if a party lives outside of Manitoba?

MEP has arrangements with all Canadian provinces and territories, the United States and several other countries to recognize and enforce court orders or agreements from other jurisdictions. This allows the different programs to work together to enforce support obligations.

If a support payor lives outside Manitoba:

• MEP may choose to register the support order with the enforcement program in the jurisdiction where support payor lives. A letter will be sent to both parties if MEP proceeds with the registration. Please note that this process takes time.
• Once a file is open in both jurisdictions, MEP will work with the other enforcement program to manage the file.
• Support payors may continue to communicate with Manitoba MEP until the enforcement program in your area contacts you.
  • If enforcement action becomes necessary, the enforcement program where the support payor lives will take action based on its laws and enforcement methods.
• Any payments collected will be forwarded to the enforcement program where the support recipient is registered.

If a support recipient lives outside Manitoba:

• If the support payor lives here and the support recipient lives outside of Manitoba, the support recipient should register with the maintenance enforcement program where they live. That program will contact us about collecting the support payments on their behalf.

If a support recipient lives in Manitoba:

• Please register with MEP and we will communicate with the enforcement program in the support payor’s jurisdiction on your behalf.

If both parties live outside of Manitoba:

• If at the time of registration both parties live outside of Manitoba, MEP will not open a file except in exceptional circumstances.
• Manitoba MEP is unable to maintain an open file if neither party resides in Manitoba, except in exceptional circumstances.
• Please contact MEP if your address changes and for more information on registering with the program in your area