(1) The division of child support (DCS) may serve a notice of support debt and demand for payment on a noncustodial parent (NCP) under RCW 74.20A.040 to provide notice that DCS is enforcing a support order entered in Washington state, a foreign court order or a foreign administrative order for support.

(a) A "foreign" order is one entered in a jurisdiction other than a Washington state court or administrative forum.

(b) DCS uses the notice of support debt and demand for payment when there is only one current child support order for the NCP and the children in the case.

(c) When there are multiple current support orders for the same obligor and children, DCS determines which order to enforce as provided under WAC 388-14A-3307.

(2) DCS serves a notice of support debt and demand for payment like a summons in a civil action or by certified mail, return receipt requested.

(3) In a notice of support debt and demand for payment, DCS includes the information required by RCW 74.20A.040, the amount of current and future support, accrued support debt, interest (if interest is being assessed under WAC 388-14A-7110), any health insurance coverage obligation, and any day care costs under the court or administrative order.

(4) After service of a notice of support debt and demand for payment, the NCP must make all support payments to the Washington state support registry. DCS does not credit payments made to any other party after service of a notice of support debt and demand for payment except as provided in WAC 388-14A-3375.

(5) A notice of support debt and demand for payment becomes final and subject to immediate wage withholding and enforcement without further notice under chapters 26.18, 26.23, and 74.20A RCW, subject to the terms of the order, unless, within twenty days of service of the notice in Washington, or within sixty days of service of the notice outside of Washington, the NCP:

(a) Files a request with DCS for a conference board under WAC 388-14A-6400. The effective date of a conference board request is the date DCS receives the request;

(b) Obtains a stay from the superior court; or

(c) Objects to either the validity of the foreign support order or the administrative enforcement of the foreign support order, in which case DCS proceeds with registration of the foreign support order under WAC 388-14A-7100.

(6) RCW 26.21A.515 controls the calculation of the debt on a notice of support debt and demand for payment.

(7) Enforcement of the following are not stayed by a request for a conference board or hearing under this section or WAC 388-14A-6400:

(a) Current and future support stated in the order; and

(b) Any portion of the support debt that the NCP and custodial parent (CP) fail to claim is not owed.

(8) Following service of the notice of support debt and demand for payment on the NCP, DCS mails to the last known address of the CP and/or the payee under the order:

(a) A copy of the notice of support debt and demand for payment; and

(b) A notice to payee under WAC 388-14A-3315 regarding the payee's rights to contest the notice of support debt. The CP who is not the payee under the order has the same rights to contest the notice of support debt and demand for payment.

(9) If the NCP requests a conference board under subsection (5)(a) of this section, DCS mails a copy of the notice of conference board to the CP informing the CP of the CP's right to:

(a) Participate in the conference board; or

(b) Request a hearing under WAC 388-14A-3321 within twenty days of the date of a notice of conference board that was mailed to a Washington address. If the notice of conference board was mailed to an out-of-state address, the CP may request a hearing within sixty days of the date of the notice of conference board. The effective date of a hearing request is the date DCS receives the request.

(10) If the CP requests a hearing under subsection (8)(b) of this section, DCS must:

(a) Stay enforcement of the notice of support debt and demand for payment except as required under subsection (6) of this section; and

(b) Notify the NCP of the hearing.

(11) If a CP requests a late hearing under subsection (7) of this section, the CP must show good cause for filing the late request.

(12) The NCP is limited to a conference board to contest the notice and may not request a hearing on a notice of support debt and demand for payment. However, if the CP requests a hearing, the NCP may participate in the hearing.

(13) A notice of support debt and demand for payment must fully and fairly inform the NCP of the rights and responsibilities in this section.

PDFWAC 388-14A-3304

The division of child support may serve a notice of support debt and demand for payment when it is enforcing a support order issued in Washington state, a foreign court order or a foreign administrative order for support.