PDFWAC 388-14A-1025

What are the responsibilities of the division of child support?

(1) The division of child support (DCS) provides support enforcement services when:
(a) The department of social and health services pays public assistance;
(b) A former recipient of public assistance is eligible for services, as provided in WAC 388-14A-2000 (2)(c);
(c) The department of children, youth, and families:
(i) Provides residential care (foster care) for a dependent child; and
(ii) Refers a noncustodial parent (NCP) or parents (NCPs) to DCS for DCS to provide support enforcement services for the child in residential care;
(d) A custodial parent (CP) or NCP requests nonassistance support enforcement services under RCW 74.20.040 and WAC 388-14A-2000;
(e) A support order or wage assignment order under chapter 26.18 RCW directs the NCP to make support payments through the Washington state support registry (WSSR);
(f) A support order under which there is a current support obligation for dependent children is submitted to the WSSR;
(g) A former CP requests services to collect a support debt accrued under a court or administrative support order while the child or children resided with the CP;
(h) A child support enforcement agency in another state or foreign country requests support enforcement services; or
(i) A child support agency of an Indian tribe requests support enforcement services.
(2) DCS takes action under chapters 26.09, 26.18, 26.19, 26.21A, 26.23, 26.26A, 26.26B, 74.20, and 74.20A RCW to establish, enforce, and collect child support obligations.
(a) DCS refers cases to the county prosecuting attorney or attorney general's office when judicial action is required.
(b) If DCS has referred a case to the county prosecuting attorney or attorney general's office and the CP has been granted good cause level A, DCS does not share funding under Title IV-D for any actions taken by the prosecutor or attorney general's office once DCS advises them of the good cause finding.
(3) DCS does not take action on cases where the community services office (CSO) has granted the CP good cause not to cooperate under WAC 388-422-0020, when the CSO grants "level A good cause." If the CSO grants "level B good cause," DCS proceeds to establish and enforce support obligations but does not require the CP to cooperate with DCS. WAC 388-14A-2065 and 388-14A-2070 describe the way DCS handles cases with good cause issues.
(4) DCS establishes, maintains, retains, and disposes of case records in accordance with the department's records management and retention policies and procedures adopted under chapter 40.14 RCW.
(5) DCS establishes, maintains, and monitors support payment records.
(6) DCS receives, accounts for, and distributes child support payments required under court or administrative orders for support.
(7) DCS charges and collects fees as required by federal and state law regarding the Title IV-D child support enforcement program.
(8) DCS files a satisfaction of judgment when we determine that a support obligation is either paid in full or no longer legally enforceable. WAC 388-14A-2099 describes the procedures for filing a satisfaction of judgment. WAC 388-14A-2099(4) describes how DCS determines a support obligation is satisfied or no longer legally enforceable.
(9) Based on changes in federal statutes and regulations, DCS establishes or changes the rules regarding its responsibilities when acting as either the initiating agency or responding agency in an intergovernmental child support case.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 26.09.105, 26.18.170, 26.23.050, 26.23.110, 26.23.120, 34.05.020, 34.05.060, 74.08.090, 74.20.040, 74.20A.055, and 74.20A.056. WSR 24-15-143, § 388-14A-1025, filed 7/23/24, effective 8/23/24. Statutory Authority: RCW 26.23.120, 34.05.350 (1)(b), 43.20A.550, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 74.20.040(9), 74.20A.310 and 45 C.F.R. Parts 301.1, 302.36, 303.7, 303.11, 305.63, and 308.2. WSR 13-01-075, § 388-14A-1025, filed 12/18/12, effective 1/18/13. Statutory Authority: 2007 c 143, §§ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. WSR 08-12-029, § 388-14A-1025, filed 5/29/08, effective 7/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 74.20A.310. WSR 01-24-080, § 388-14A-1025, filed 12/3/01, effective 1/3/02. Statutory Authority: RCW 74.08.090, 45 C.F.R. 303.106. WSR 01-03-089, § 388-14A-1025, filed 1/17/01, effective 2/17/01. Formerly WAC 388-14-205.]