Congressman Ted Deutch has cosponsored H.R. 583, also known as Jane's Law. In 1983, Jane Maharam’s husband of 31 years, textile magnate Robert Maharam, ransacked their home and took with him the marital assets of their marriage, including money, investments and furnishings.  Following a 15-year court battle, the court ordered that Robert return to Jane millions of dollars.  But instead of giving back her assets from the marital estate, Robert Maharam fled the state.  As long as Robert does not return to New York State, where the couple divorced, Jane cannot get the terms of the settlement enforced because the state warrant for his arrest cannot be enforced over state lines.  Sadly, many spouses or ex-spouses across the country have found themselves in the same horrific position as Jane. H.R. 583, would ensure that Robert and others like him are brought to justice. Modeled after the child support enforcement law, “Jane’s Law” provides federal enforcement to retrieve stolen marital property that is illegally taken across state lines. The bill targets offenders who have willfully failed to pay and deliberately evaded payment. The bill would make it a federal crime to flee over state lines to avoid paying court-ordered divorce distribution of property and/or assets over $5,000 and require that the spouse who fled pay the full amount of the previously determined settlement.

You can read H.R. 583, Jane's Law, here.