PDFWAC 388-14A-3302
How does the division of child support decide what notice to serve when there is already an existing order for child support?
(1) When the division of child support (DCS) serves a notice under WAC 388-14A-3300 to advise a noncustodial parent (NCP) that DCS is enforcing a support order, DCS may serve a notice of support debt, a notice of support debt and registration, a notice of support owed, or any other appropriate notice as provided in this chapter.
(2) If the support order sets the amount of the support obligation in a sum certain amount, DCS may serve a notice of support debt on the NCP as provided in RCW 74.20A.040 and WAC 388-14A-3304.
(3) If DCS is registering a support order or income-withholding order issued in another state, DCS may serve a notice of support debt and registration on the NCP, as provided in RCW 26.21A.500, 26.21A.540 and WAC 388-14A-7100.
(4) Under RCW 26.23.110, DCS may serve a notice of support owed on an NCP or a custodial parent (CP), as appropriate, if the underlying support order:
(a) Does not state the monthly support obligation as a fixed dollar amount stated in U.S. dollars;
(b) Contains an escalation clause or adjustment provision for which additional information not contained in the support order is needed to determine the fixed dollar amount of the support debt or the fixed dollar amount of the current and future support obligation, or both;
(c) Provides that the NCP is responsible for a portion of nonmedical expenses incurred on behalf of the child, but does not reduce the amount owed to a fixed dollar amount; or
(d) Provides that either the NCP or the custodial parent (CP) must provide medical support as provided under either RCW 26.19.105 or 74.20A.300, but does not reduce the medical support obligation to a fixed dollar amount.
(5) As of the effective date of this section, DCS does not serve a notice of support owed under RCW 26.23.110 to determine the NCP's proportionate share of any nonmedical expenses other than daycare or child care expenses incurred on behalf of the child(ren) covered by the order.
(6) The fact that an NCP or CP's request that DCS act on his or her claim for unreimbursed nonmedical expenses is rejected by DCS does not mean that the NCP or CP cannot pursue reimbursement of those expenses by proceeding in court.
(a) If a CP obtains a judgment for unreimbursed nonmedical expenses, DCS may enforce the judgment if the CP qualifies for services under WAC 388-14A-2000.
(b) If DCS served a notice of support owed to determine the NCP's proportionate share of nonmedical expenses at some time before the effective date of this section and either NCP or CP requests an annual review under RCW 26.23.110, DCS may continue to provide annual reviews for the support order which was the subject of the prior notice of support owed but only for the same nonmedical expenses addressed in the prior notice of support owed.
(7) See WAC 388-14A-3310 for the general rules for a notice of support owed.
(a) WAC 388-14A-3311 describes the procedures for service of a notice of support owed to:
(i) Determine the fixed dollar amount of the support debt or the fixed dollar amount of the current and future support obligation;
(ii) Implement an escalation clause or adjustment provision;
(iii) Convert a support order set in foreign currency using the current rate of exchange to fix the amount of support in U.S. dollars; or
(iv) Determine as a sum certain the NCP's proportionate share of daycare or child care expenses paid by the NCP.
(b) WAC 388-14A-3312 describes the procedures for service of a notice of support owed to establish a parent's share of medical expenses and/or medical support owed for the child or children covered by a support order.
(c) WAC 388-14A-3330 describes the procedures for service of a notice of support owed when DCS conducts an annual review of the amounts determined by an order resulting from a previous notice of support owed.
(8) WAC 388-14A-3307 discusses how DCS proceeds when DCS decides that a determination of controlling order under chapter 26.21A RCW is required. Under that section, DCS may serve a notice of support debt and registration as provided in WAC 388-14A-7100.
(9) WAC 388-14A-3315 provides that:
(a) When DCS serves a notice of support debt or a notice of support owed on the NCP, DCS notifies the CP and the payee under the order, if the CP is not the payee under the order; and
(b) When DCS serves a notice of support owed under WAC 388-14A-3312 on the CP, DCS notifies the NCP.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 26.09.105, 26.23.110, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 74.20.040, and 74.20A.310. WSR 21-24-063, § 388-14A-3302, filed 11/29/21, effective 12/30/21. Statutory Authority: RCW 26.23.120, 43.20A.550, 74.04.055, 74.08.090, 74.20.040(9), 74.20A.310, and 45 C.F.R. Parts 301.1, 302.35, 302.36, 303.3, 303.7, 303.11, 303.20, 305.63, 307.13, and 308.2. WSR 11-22-116, § 388-14A-3302, filed 11/2/11, effective 12/3/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 26.09.105(17), 26.18.170(19), 26.23.050(8), 26.23.110(14), 34.05.020, 34.05.060, 34.05.220, 74.08.090, 74.20.040, 74.20A.055(9), and 74.20A.056(11). WSR 11-12-006, § 388-14A-3302, filed 5/19/11, effective 6/19/11.]