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Washington

Washington Laws – Revised Code of Washington (RCW)
RCW 74.20A.060
Assertion of lien — Effect.
(1) The secretary may assert a lien upon the real or personal property of a responsible parent:

(a) When a support payment is past due, if the parent's support order contains notice that liens may be enforced against real and personal property, or notice that action may be taken under this chapter;

(b) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support debt under RCW 74.20A.040;

(c) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding of financial responsibility under RCW 74.20A.055;

(d) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding of parental responsibility;

(e) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support owed under RCW 26.23.110; or

(f) When appropriate under RCW 74.20A.270.

(2) The division of child support may use uniform interstate lien forms adopted by the United States department of health and human services to assert liens on a responsible parent's real and personal property located in another state.

(3) The claim of the department for a support debt, not paid when due, shall be a lien against all property of the debtor with priority of a secured creditor. This lien shall be separate and apart from, and in addition to, any other lien created by, or provided for, in this title. The lien shall attach to all real and personal property of the debtor on the date of filing of such statement with the county auditor of the county in which such property is located.

(4) Whenever a support lien has been filed and there is in the possession of any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision or department of the state having notice of said lien any property which may be subject to the support lien, such property shall not be paid over, released, sold, transferred, encumbered or conveyed, except as provided for by the exemptions contained in RCW 74.20A.090 and 74.20A.130, unless:

(a) A written release or waiver signed by the secretary has been delivered to said person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision or department of the state; or

(b) A determination has been made in an adjudicative proceeding pursuant to RCW 74.20A.055 or by a superior court ordering release of said support lien on the basis that no debt exists or that the debt has been satisfied.
[1997 c 58 § 906. Prior: 1989 c 360 § 9; 1989 c 175 § 153; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 5; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 7; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 6.]

RCW 74.20A.070
Service of lien.
(1) The secretary may at any time after filing of a support lien serve a copy of the lien upon any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state in possession of earnings, or deposits or balances held in any bank account of any nature which are due, owing, or belonging to said debtor.

(2) The support lien shall be served upon the person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state:

(a) In the manner prescribed for the service of summons in a civil action;

(b) By certified mail, return receipt requested; or

(c) By electronic means if there is an agreement between the secretary and the person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state to accept service by electronic means.

(3) No lien filed under RCW 74.20A.060 shall have any effect against earnings or bank deposits or balances unless it states the amount of the support debt accrued and unless service upon the person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state in possession of earnings or bank accounts, deposits or balances is accomplished pursuant to this section.
[1997 c 130 § 6; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 8; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 7.]

RCW 74.20A.080
Order to withhold and deliver — Issuance and service — Contents — Effect — Duties of person served — Processing fee.
(1) The secretary may issue to any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States, an order to withhold and deliver property of any kind, including but not restricted to earnings which are or might become due, owing, or belonging to the debtor, when the secretary has reason to believe that there is in the possession of such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States property which is or might become due, owing, or belonging to said debtor. Such order to withhold and deliver may be issued:

(a) At any time, if a responsible parent's support order:

(i) Contains notice that withholding action may be taken against earnings, wages, or assets without further notice to the parent; or

(ii) Includes a statement that other income-withholding action under this chapter may be taken without further notice to the responsible parent;

(b) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support debt under RCW 74.20A.040;

(c) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding of parental responsibility under RCW 74.20A.056;

(d) Twenty-one days after service of a notice of support owed under RCW 26.23.110;

(e) Twenty-one days after service of a notice and finding of financial responsibility under RCW 74.20A.055; or

(f) When appropriate under RCW 74.20A.270.

(2) The order to withhold and deliver shall:

(a) State the amount to be withheld on a periodic basis if the order to withhold and deliver is being served to secure payment of monthly current support;

(b) State the amount of the support debt accrued;

(c) State in summary the terms of RCW 74.20A.090 and 74.20A.100;

(d) Be served:

(i) In the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action;

(ii) By certified mail, return receipt requested;

(iii) By electronic means if there is an agreement between the secretary and the person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States to accept service by electronic means;

(iv) By regular mail to a responsible parent's employer unless the division of child support reasonably believes that service of process in the manner prescribed in (d)(i) or (ii) of this subsection is required for initiating an action to ensure employer compliance with the withholding requirement; or

(v) By regular mail to an address if designated by the financial institution as a central levy or garnishment address, and if the notice is clearly identified as a levy or garnishment order. Before the division of child support may initiate an action for noncompliance with a withholding action against a financial institution, the division of child support must serve the order to withhold and deliver on the financial institution in the manner described in (d)(i) or (ii) of this subsection.

(3) The division of child support may use uniform interstate withholding forms adopted by the United States department of health and human services to take withholding actions under this section when the responsible parent is owed money or property that is located in this state or in another state.

(4) Any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States upon whom service has been made is hereby required to:

(a) Answer said order to withhold and deliver within twenty days, exclusive of the day of service, under oath and in writing, and shall make true answers to the matters inquired of therein; and

(b) Provide further and additional answers when requested by the secretary.

(5) The returned answer or a payment remitted to the division of child support by the employer constitutes proof of service of the order to withhold and deliver in the case where the order was served by regular mail.

(6) Any such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States in possession of any property which may be subject to the claim of the department shall:

(a)(i) Immediately withhold such property upon receipt of the order to withhold and deliver; and

(ii) Within seven working days deliver the property to the secretary;

(iii) Continue to withhold earnings payable to the debtor at each succeeding disbursement interval as provided for in RCW 74.20A.090, and deliver amounts withheld from earnings to the secretary within seven working days of the date earnings are payable to the debtor;

(iv) Deliver amounts withheld from periodic payments to the secretary within seven working days of the date the payments are payable to the debtor;

(v) Inform the secretary of the date the amounts were withheld as requested under this section; or

(b) Furnish to the secretary a good and sufficient bond, satisfactory to the secretary, conditioned upon final determination of liability.

(7) An order to withhold and deliver served under this section shall not expire until:

(a) Released in writing by the division of child support;

(b) Terminated by court order;

(c) A person or entity, other than an employer as defined in Title 50 RCW, who has received the order to withhold and deliver does not possess property of or owe money to the debtor; or

(d) An employer who has received the order to withhold and deliver no longer employs, contracts, or owes money to the debtor under a contract of employment, express or implied.

(8) Where money is due and owing under any contract of employment, express or implied, or is held by any person, firm, corporation, or association, political subdivision, or department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States subject to withdrawal by the debtor, such money shall be delivered by remittance payable to the order of the secretary.

(9) Delivery to the secretary of the money or other property held or claimed shall satisfy the requirement and serve as full acquittance of the order to withhold and deliver.

(10) A person, firm, corporation, or association, political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States that complies with the order to withhold and deliver under this chapter is not civilly liable to the debtor for complying with the order to withhold and deliver under this chapter.

(11) The secretary may hold the money or property delivered under this section in trust for application on the indebtedness involved or for return, without interest, in accordance with final determination of liability or nonliability.

(12) Exemptions contained in RCW 74.20A.090 apply to orders to withhold and deliver issued under this section.

(13) The secretary shall also, on or before the date of service of the order to withhold and deliver, mail or cause to be mailed a copy of the order to withhold and deliver to the debtor at the debtor's last known post office address, or, in the alternative, a copy of the order to withhold and deliver shall be served on the debtor in the same manner as a summons in a civil action on or before the date of service of the order or within two days thereafter. The copy of the order shall be mailed or served together with a concise explanation of the right to petition for judicial review. This requirement is not jurisdictional, but, if the copy is not mailed or served as in this section provided, or if any irregularity appears with respect to the mailing or service, the superior court, in its discretion on motion of the debtor promptly made and supported by affidavit showing that the debtor has suffered substantial injury due to the failure to mail the copy, may set aside the order to withhold and deliver and award to the debtor an amount equal to the damages resulting from the secretary's failure to serve on or mail to the debtor the copy.

(14) An order to withhold and deliver issued in accordance with this section has priority over any other wage assignment, garnishment, attachment, or other legal process.

(15) The division of child support shall notify any person, firm, corporation, association, or political subdivision, department of the state, or agency, subdivision, or instrumentality of the United States required to withhold and deliver the earnings of a debtor under this action that they may deduct a processing fee from the remainder of the debtor's earnings, even if the remainder would otherwise be exempt under RCW 74.20A.090. The processing fee shall not exceed ten dollars for the first disbursement to the department and one dollar for each subsequent disbursement under the order to withhold and deliver.
[2002 c 199 § 7; 2000 c 86 § 8; 1998 c 160 § 1. Prior: 1997 c 130 § 7; 1997 c 58 § 907; 1994 c 230 § 20; prior: 1989 c 360 § 10; 1989 c 175 § 154; 1985 c 276 § 6; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 6; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 9; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 8.]

RCW 74.20A.090
Certain amount of earnings exempt from lien or order — "Earnings" and "disposable earnings" defined.
Whenever a support lien or order to withhold and deliver is served upon any person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state asserting a support debt against earnings and there is in the possession of such person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state, any such earnings, RCW 6.27.150 shall not apply, but fifty percent of the disposable earnings shall be exempt and may be disbursed to the debtor whether such earnings are paid, or to be paid weekly, monthly, or at other intervals and whether there be due the debtor earnings for one week or for a longer period. The lien or order to withhold and deliver shall continue to operate and require said person, firm, corporation, association, political subdivision, or department of the state to withhold the nonexempt portion of earnings at each succeeding earnings disbursement interval until the entire amount of the support debt stated in the lien or order to withhold and deliver has been withheld. As used in this chapter, the term "earnings" means compensation paid or payable for personal services, whether denominated as wages, salary, commission, bonus, or otherwise, and, notwithstanding any other provision of law making such payments exempt from garnishment, attachment, or other process to satisfy support obligation, specifically includes periodic payments pursuant to pension or retirement programs, or insurance policies of any type, but does not include payments made under Title 50 RCW, except as provided in RCW 50.40.020 and 50.40.050 or Title 74 RCW. Earnings shall specifically include all gain derived from capital, from labor, or from both combined, not including profit gained through sale or conversion of capital assets. The term "disposable earnings" means that part of the earnings of any individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of any amount required by law to be withheld.
[1982 1st ex.s. c 18 § 12. Prior: 1982 c 201 § 21; 1979 ex.s. c 171 § 10; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 10; 1971 ex.s. c 164 § 9.]

74.20A.095
Support enforcement services — Action against earnings within state — Notice.
When providing support enforcement services, the office of support enforcement may take action, under this chapter and chapter 26.23 RCW, against a responsible parent's earnings or assets, located in, or subject to the jurisdiction of, the state of Washington regardless of the presence or residence of the responsible parent. If the responsible parent resides in another state or country, the office of support enforcement shall, unless otherwise authorized by state or federal law, serve a notice under RCW 74.20A.040 more than sixty days before taking collection action.
[2000 c 86 § 9; 1991 c 367 § 48.]

RCW 74.20A.260
Industrial insurance disability payments subject to collection by office of support enforcement.
Disability payments made pursuant to Title 51 RCW shall be classified as earnings and shall be subject to collection action by the office for support enforcement under this chapter and all other applicable state statutes.
[1987 c 435 § 34; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 § 24.]