Washington State Law
1. General Program-At-A-Glance
1. How many local child support offices are in your state excluding agencies with cooperative agreements? |
9 Field Offices, 1 in each of the following cities: Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Yakima, Vancouver, Olympia, Spokane, Wenatchee, and Kennewick. |
2. What is the name of your IV-D agency? |
Washington State Division of Child Support (DCS) |
3. Is your state administrative, judicial, or a combination of both? In particular, does your state primarily use judicial or administrative procedures to establish and/or enforce support orders? Please describe. |
Both administrative and court order establishment processes are available. Enforcement actions are primarily administrative.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
4. Does your state use the following applications: EDE, CSENET, QUICK? |
CSENET, QUICK |
2. Duration Of Support
3. Statute Of Limitations
1. What is your state's statute of limitations for the collection of past-due support? |
For orders entered after July 23, 1989: all past due support expires 10 years after the 18th birthday of youngest child named in the order. For orders entered before July 23, 1989: each monthly installment expires 10 years after that monthly installment becomes due.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. What is your state's statute of limitations for the establishment of paternity/parentage? Please explain. |
For a child with no presumed, acknowledged or adjudicated parent, anytime within the life of the child. For a child with a presumed parent, within 4 years of the birth of the child.
RCW 26.26A.430
RCW 26.26A.435
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
3. Is dormancy revival/renewal possible? If yes, under what circumstances and for how long? |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
4. Support Details
5. Paternity/Parentage
6. Support Order Establishment
7. Income Withholding
8. Distribution
1. Does your state pass through collections (and disregard collections for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) eligibility purposes) in current assistance cases? If yes, provide the amount and explain. |
Yes. Effective 2/1/21 we will pass through up to $50 per month if the custodial party has 1 child on the TANF grant and up to $100 per month if the custodial party has 2 or more children on the TANF grant. RCW 26.23.035(4) |
2. Does your state participate in the pass-through in former assistance cases? If yes, provide the date and explain. |
No. |
3. In former assistance cases, are federal income tax refund offset payments applied to families first (DRA distribution) or state arrears first (PRWORA distribution)? |
PRWORA distribution effective 7/1/2010 |
4. How does your state distribute payments when the noncustodial parent has arrears due to your state and another state? |
Payments are distributed first to current support and then proportionately to each debt according to the proportion that the debt owed to each jurisdiction bears to the entire amount owed. |
4.1. If there are no arrears due to your state, how does your state distribute payments when the noncustodial parent has arrears due to multiple states? |
Same as above.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
9. Enforcement
1. What data matches (for example, financial institution, state lottery) and enforcement remedies are available through Automated Administrative Enforcement in Interstate Cases (AEI) in your state? (See AT-08-06: Implementing Section 466(a)(14) of the Social Security Act, High-Volume, Automated Administrative Enforcement in Interstate Cases.) |
MSFIDM,FIDM |
2. What criteria must be met, and in addition to Transmittal #3, what documentation does your state require to proceed with an AEI request? |
A copy of order, debt calculation, name of FI and account balance if available, name(s) of CP(s) involved and child(ren). |
3. What are your state's criteria for reporting a noncustodial parent's child support information to credit bureaus? |
Case is open and has been in the IT system for 60 days, SSN is known to the agency, arrearages exceed $1000.00 and a verified or unverified mailing or home address is known to the agency.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
4. To which credit bureaus does your state report a noncustodial parent's child support information? |
Innovis, TransUnion, Equifax, Experian |
5. Is the method for credit bureau reporting judicial, administrative, or both? |
Administrative |
6. Can a noncustodial parent who no longer has a past-due account have the report removed from the credit bureau? If so, what must the noncustodial parent do?" |
No. The account would only be deleted if the NCP was reported in error. |
7. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for federal administrative offset? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
No. |
8. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for federal administrative offset? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
Yes, $1000.00 |
9. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for insurance match? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
No. |
10. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for insurance match? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
Yes, $500 is the minimum for matching but we typically do not pursue unless the arrears are $1000.00 or more. |
11. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for MSFIDM? If yes, what is the minimum required past-due amount? |
No. |
12. When your state is the initiating state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for MSFIDM? If yes, what is the minimum past-due amount? |
Yes, $250.00 |
13. When your state is the responding state, does it submit past-due cases to OCSE for passport denial? |
No. |
14. Are the financial institution attachment procedures in your state judicial, administrative, or both? |
Administrative |
15. Are there specific account types exempt from the administrative financial institution attachment process in your state? If yes, which account types are exempt? |
Yes. Pension plan benefits protected under ERISA
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
16. Is the financial institution attachment process in your state centralized and/or automated? |
No it is not centralized. Some financial institutions are automated. |
17. What are the criteria to attach an account in a financial institution in your state? |
When there is an arrears debt and the NCP does not pay regularly, is self-employed, has a personal accounts or owns a sole proprietorship and we can not collect through wage withholding. Funds in the account must be from other sources, they can not only be from exempt funds. |
18. Does your state's law require financial institutions doing business in your state to accept enforcement actions directly from other states? If yes, provide the statutory citation. Please explain. |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
19. If there are no statutory criteria required to attach an account, describe the process for requesting a financial institution attachment from another child support agency (for example, a Transmittal #3) and list additional documentation required. |
Send the following in an AEI request: Transmittal #3, copy of order, debt calculation, name of FI and account balance if available, name(s)of CP(s) involved and child(ren). |
20. Does your state's income withholding definition include amounts in financial institutions? |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
21. Does your state require sending a notice of intent to the noncustodial parent when attaching an account in a financial institution? Who notifies the noncustodial parent - the state, the financial institution, or both? |
Yes, Documents are sent simultaneously to the financial institution and the NCP; The state
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
22. How long does the financial institution have to hold funds before sending the noncustodial parent's assets to your child support agency? |
Seven days.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
23. Does your state law or policy require the financial institution and/or state to hold the attached assets during the challenge or appeal time frame? If yes, provide the statutory citation and time frames. |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
24. What amount or percentage of the noncustodial parent's financial assets are eligible for attachment? Is this different for joint accounts? Please explain. |
100% up to the amount of the debt owed. No it is not different with joint accounts.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
25. What are the criteria for a noncustodial parent and/or joint account holder to contest a financial institution attachment? |
NCP can claim funds in account are exempt. Joint account holder can claim all the funds attached were theirs and do not belong to the NCP
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
26. Does your state have procedures to liquidate non-liquid assets (for example, stocks, bonds, etc.)? If yes, provide the statutory citation and the procedures to follow. |
No.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
27. What are your state's criteria for driver's license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? |
We can request the suspension of a driver license with notice to the non-custodial parent and arrears in excess of 6 months of support
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
28. What are your state's criteria for driver's license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions? |
The noncustodial party pays the arrears in full or they enter into a repayment agreement and make the first payment under the terms of the agreement. |
29. Does your state allow temporary or conditional driver's licenses? If yes, what are the criteria? |
No. |
30. What are your state's criteria for professional license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? Specify the professional license types. |
Same as drivers license. |
31. What are your state's criteria for professional license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions? |
The noncustodial party pays the arrears in full or they enter into a repayment agreement and make the first payment under the terms of the agreement |
32. Does your state allow temporary or conditional professional licenses? If yes, what are the criteria? |
No. |
33. What are your state's criteria for recreational license revocation/suspension for nonpayment of support? Specify the recreational license types. |
Driver license suspension automatically triggers recreational (hunting, fishing, etc.) license suspension. |
34. What are your state's criteria for recreational license restoration/reinstatement, including hardship exemptions? |
The noncustodial party pays the arrears in full or they enter into a repayment agreement and make the first payment under the terms of the agreement. |
35. Does your state allow temporary or conditional recreational licenses? If yes, what are the criteria? |
No
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
36. What are the criteria for initiating/filing a lien in your state? |
Any arrearage $500 or more.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
37. Is the lien process in your state primarily judicial, administrative, or both? Please describe. |
The lien process is administrative. Liens are filed in the county of residence and or country where assets are located. A lien is issued to the County Assessor Office to be filed and recorded. The agency is provided the date and recording number once the lien is filed. |
38. Does your state enforce property seizure and sale? If so, is this process primarily judicial, administrative, or both? Please describe. |
Yes. Administrative. Vehicles, motorcycles, RV, Boats, airplanes.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
39. Does your state have a state income tax refund offset as an enforcement remedy? If yes, describe whether the process for this remedy is primarily judicial, administrative, or a combination. |
No- Washington has no state income tax. |
40. Does your state intercept lottery or other types of gaming/gambling winnings in your state? If so, what kind of winnings are included? |
Yes, Lottery winnings. A cash prize or a prize that can be converted to a cash value. |
40.1. If yes, is this enforcement judicial, administrative, or both? |
Administrative |
41. What other administrative enforcement procedures are available in your state that are not otherwise described in the IRG? |
DOR Unclaimed property; levies against legal and insurance claims; Liens against personal property such as vehicles, motorcycles, RV, boats, airplanes. |
42. What other judicial enforcement procedures are available in your state that are not otherwise described in the IRG? |
Contempt, QDRO, fraudulent conveyance, foreclosure of a deed of trust, estate claims. |
10. Modification And Review/Adjustment
11. Lump Sum Payments
1. What is your state's definition of a lump sum, if it has one? Provide the statutory citation. (Note: States may define "lump sum" more broadly than only employer- related lump sums.) |
N/A
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. Does your state law require employers to report lump sum payments? If yes, provide the statutory citation or rule. |
No
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
3. How does your state attach different types of lump sum payments? For example, does your state use the OMB-approved income withholding order for employer-issued bonuses, a lien, and levy notice for workers' compensation (if workers' compensation is considered a lump sum payment in your state), etc.? |
Income withholding order lump sum and Order to withhold and deliver for employer based lump sums. Income withholding order for out of state worker compensation; Other types of lump sums could be Order to withhold and Deliver or a Federal Notice of Lien. |
12. Cost Recovery And Fees
1. Does your state elect to recover costs in excess of any fees collected to cover administrative costs in your child support state plan? (See section 454(6) of the Social Security Act and 45 CFR 302.33(d).) If yes, does your state collect excess actual or standardized costs on a case-by-case basis? Please describe. |
No. |
1.1. If yes, does your state recover costs from the custodial parent or the noncustodial parent? (Note: No costs can be assessed against a foreign custodial parent applying through a Central Authority in a Hague Convention country, a foreign reciprocating country, or a foreign country with state-level reciprocity.) |
N/A |
2. Does your state recover costs on behalf of an initiating state that has elected to do cost recovery? If yes, describe. |
Yes if the other state includes the costs in a certified debt calculation. |
3. How does your state impose and collect the mandatory $35 annual fee (after collecting the first $550)? This fee is applicable in IV-D cases in which individuals who never received IV-A assistance are receiving IV-D services. (See 45 CFR 302.33(e).) See options below. |
3.1. Is it retained by the state from support collected? |
Yes. The fee is retained from support collected on behalf of the individual who is entitled to receive the support regardless of which party applied for services |
3.2. Is it paid by the individual applying for child support services? |
No. |
3.3. Is it recovered from the noncustodial parent? |
No |
3.4. Is it paid by the state out of its state funds? |
International responding cases only. |
13. Insurance Match
14. Family Violence
15. CSENet
1. When your state is the initiating state, does it send a Child Support Enforcement Network (CSENet) case closure transaction to let the responding state know your state has closed its case (including the reason for closure) and/or the responding state's intergovernmental services are no longer needed? (MSC P GSC15; 45 CFR 303.7(c)(11).) |
Yes. |
2. When your state is the responding state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the initiating state that its case is closed based on one of the following reasons: (MSC P GSC16)? Initiating state failure to take an action essential for the next steps? (45 CFR 303.11(b)(17).) The initiating state requested the responding state to close the case? (45 CFR 303.7(d)(10).) |
Yes. |
3. When your state is the initiating state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the responding state that it must stop any income withholding orders or notices and close the intergovernmental case? (MSC P GSC17; 45 CFR 303.7(c)(12).) |
Yes. |
4. When your state is the responding state, does it send a CSENet case closure transaction to notify the initiating state that, per its request, the case is closed, and your state has stopped its income withholding order? (MSC P GSC18; 45 CFR 303.7(d)(9).) |
Yes. |
5. Does your state send CSENet transactions to request interest information? (MSC R GRINT) |
Not automated, only sent from a caseworker. |
6. Does your state send CSENet transactions to provide another state with interest and arrears information? (MSC P GSTAI) |
No and Washington does not assess interest. |
16. Copies Of Orders And Payment Records
1. What are the procedures and associated costs for obtaining a certified copy of a court order? |
No cost if requested through our agency.
WA court order - ask WA caseworker to send a request to the county where the order was entered.
WA administrative order- ask WA caseworker to prepare a certified copy of final Administrative Order.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. What are the procedures and associated costs for obtaining a certified payment record? |
No cost. The WA caseworker can prepare a notarized payment record.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
17. Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA)
18. International - Reciprocity
1. With which foreign countries or other jurisdictions (such as Quebec) does your state have state-level reciprocity for child support? (Do not include federal foreign reciprocating or Hague Convention countries.) |
N/A |
2. Does your state exercise its option for enforcement of spousal-only orders for a foreign reciprocating country, a Hague Convention country, or a foreign country with which your state has state-level reciprocity? (See section 454(32)(B) of the Social Security Act.) |
No. |
3. Does your state agency accept direct applications for services from individuals residing outside the United States (See UIFSA 307 - Alternative A), or does your state's law allow discretion in accepting these applications (See UIFSA 307 - Alternative B)? |
Yes. Alternative A. |
19. International Information For Hague Convention Countries
1. When a Hague Convention country seeks registration of a Convention support order in your state, does your state allow the country to send an abstract (or summary) of the order on the Hague Abstract of a Decision form in lieu of the complete text? (See UIFSA 706(b) (1).) |
Yes
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. Does your state send and receive pleadings and documents electronically in international cases? If yes, specify the types of pleadings and documents your state can send and receive electronically. |
Yes. UFISA forms, Hague (Article 7) forms, support orders. |
3. What methods of personal service does your state use? |
Contracted process server, voluntary acceptance of service, certified mail return receipt, county sheriff or public official. |
4. When establishing a child support order, what can be included as add-ons to the child support guideline amount? Please provide the relevant statutory or case law citation. (See also question 1 under Support Details.) |
Basic child support, childcare, medical premium share
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
5. Does your state encourage amicable solutions between parents to promote voluntary payment of support, such as the use of mediation, conciliation, or similar consent processes? If yes, describe. |
Yes. Parents are encouraged to enter agreed settlements or consent orders with the Division of Child Support as a party. We require the signature of the parties (or telephonic approval with an administrative law judge). |
6. What circumstances will cause your state to end child support before the normal duration? |
The child emancipates before the normal duration; The child is no longer under the care of the custodial parent and there is no decision re -directing payments to someone else; The child marries The child is adopted by someone other than the non-custodial parent The child has been removed from the family and is a civil ward of the state The child support order states that child support ceases prior to the normal duration The child enters into military service prior to the normal duration.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
20. International Payments
1. How does your state disburse child support payments to foreign reciprocating and Hague Convention countries when your state is the responding state in a case? |
Payments are generally made by check. Electronic payments are sent to Norway and Netherlands formatted in the standardized Intergovernmental child support file layout through a domestic bank. |
2. What actions does your state take to reduce the costs and fees associated with international payment processing? |
All payments are processed through a designated authority All payments are processed upon receipt. |
3. Does your state accept electronic payments from foreign reciprocating or Hague Convention countries in international cases? If so, provide payment instructions. |
Electronic payments can be received in a properly formatted International ACH Transaction (IAT) file layout and as International Wires. IAT transactions should be sent to our Universal Payment Identification Code (UPIC), which is tied to our U.S. Bank account in the background, routing number 021052053 checking account number 46922337. International wires should be sent to WA State DSHS-DCS, U.S. Bank, 60 Livingston Ave., St. Paul MN 55107, routing number 123000848, checking account number 153911672027. The bank SWIFT Code is USBKUS44IMT |
21. Tribal Non IV-D
1. Has your state established cooperative arrangements with any Indian tribes or tribal organizations that don't have a tribal IV-D program? |
Yes. |
1.1. If yes, list the tribes and identify services provided, if less than full services. |
Kalispel Tribe, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Nisqually Tribe, Quileute Tribe, Shoalwater Bay Tribe, Stillaguamish Tribe, Swinomish Tribe, Upper Skagit Tribe, South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA), Spokane Tribe.
For Additional Information - No Link Provided |
2. Does your state have any IV-D attorneys licensed to practice in the courts of Indian tribes or tribal organizations that don't have tribal IV-D programs? |
Yes. |