74.20A.275 - Support payments in possession of third parties -- Collection.

Support payments in possession of third parties — Collection.

(1) If a person or entity not entitled to child support payments wrongfully or negligently retains child support payments owed to another or to the Washington state support registry, those payments retain their character as child support payments and may be collected by the division of child support using any remedy available to the division of child support under Washington law for the collection of child support.

     (2) Child support moneys subject to collection under this section may be collected for the duration of the statute of limitations as it applies to the support order governing the support obligations, and any legislative or judicial extensions thereto.

     (3) This section applies to the following:

     (a) Cases in which an employer or other entity obligated to withhold child support payments from the parent's pay, bank, or escrow account, or from any other asset or distribution of money to the parent, has withheld those payments and failed to remit them to the payee;

     (b) Cases in which child support moneys have been paid to the wrong person or entity in error;

     (c) Cases in which child support recipients have retained child support payments in violation of a child support assignment executed or arising by operation of law in exchange for the receipt of public assistance; and

     (d) Any other case in which child support payments are retained by a party not entitled to them.

     (4) This section does not apply to fines levied under RCW 74.20A.350(3)(b).

[1997 c 58 § 892.]

Notes: Short title -- Part headings, captions, table of contents not law -- Exemptions and waivers from federal law -- Conflict with federal requirements -- Severability -- 1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through 74.08A.904.