Title 26 — Title 26 DOMESTIC RELATIONS

If a child support order issued by a tribunal of this state is modified by a tribunal of another state that assumed jurisdiction pursuant to the uniform interstate family support act, a tribunal of this state:(1) May enforce its order that was modified only as to arrears and inte…

(1) If all of the parties who are individuals reside in this state and the child does not reside in the issuing state, a tribunal of this state has jurisdiction to enforce and to modify the issuing state's child support order in a proceeding to register that order.(2) A tribunal …

Within thirty days after issuance of a modified child support order, the party obtaining the modification shall file a certified copy of the order with the issuing tribunal that had continuing, exclusive jurisdiction over the earlier order, and in each tribunal in which the party…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in RCW 26.21A.625, if a foreign country lacks or refuses to exercise jurisdiction to modify its child support order pursuant to its laws, a tribunal of this state may assume jurisdiction to modify the child support order and bind all individuals s…

A party or support enforcement agency seeking to modify, or to modify and enforce, a foreign child support order not under the convention may register that order in this state under RCW 26.21A.500 through 26.21A.535 if the order has not been registered. A petition for modificatio…

In this article:(1) "Application" means a request under the convention by an obligee or obligor, or on behalf of a child, made through a central authority for assistance from another central authority.(2) "Central authority" means the entity designated by the United States or a f…

This article applies only to a support proceeding under the convention. In such a proceeding, if a provision of this article is inconsistent with Articles 1 through 6 of this chapter, this article controls.[ 2015 c 214 s 47.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements…

The department of social and health services of this state is recognized as the agency designated by the United States central authority to perform specific functions under the convention.[ 2015 c 214 s 48.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements—Waiver—2015 c 214…

(1) In a support proceeding under this article, the department of social and health services of this state shall:(a) Transmit and receive applications; and(b) Initiate or facilitate the institution of a proceeding regarding an application in a tribunal of this state.(2) The follo…

(1) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking establishment or modification of a support order or determination of parentage of a child. In such a proceeding, the law of this state applies.(2) A petitioner may file a direct request seeking recognition and enforcement of a su…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this article, a party who is an individual or a support enforcement agency seeking recognition of a convention support order shall register the order in this state as provided in Article 6 of this chapter.(2) Notwithstanding RCW 26.21A.250 and …

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this article, RCW 26.21A.520 through 26.21A.535 apply to a contest of a registered convention support order.(2) A party contesting a registered convention support order shall file a contest not later than thirty days after notice of the registr…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a registered convention support order.(2) The following grounds are the only grounds on which a tribunal of this state may refuse recognition and enforcement o…

If a tribunal of this state does not recognize and enforce a convention support order in its entirety, it shall enforce any severable part of the order. An application or direct request may seek recognition and partial enforcement of a convention support order.[ 2015 c 214 s 54.]…

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (3) and (4) of this section, a tribunal of this state shall recognize and enforce a foreign support agreement registered in this state.(2) An application or direct request for recognition and enforcement of a foreign support agreeme…

(1) A tribunal of this state may not modify a convention child support order if the obligee remains a resident of the foreign country where the support order was issued unless:(a) The obligee submits to the jurisdiction of a tribunal of this state, either expressly or by defendin…

Personal information gathered or transmitted under this article may be used only for the purposes for which it was gathered or transmitted.[ 2015 c 214 s 57.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements—Waiver—2015 c 214: See notes following RCW 26.21A.010.Denial of wa…

A record filed with a tribunal of this state under this article must be in the original language and, if not in English, must be accompanied by an English translation.[ 2015 c 214 s 58.]Notes:Effective date—Conflict with federal requirements—Waiver—2015 c 214: See notes following…

(1) For purposes of this article, "governor" includes an individual performing the functions of governor or the executive authority of a state covered by this chapter.(2) The governor of this state may:(a) Demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual found in…

(1) Before making a demand that the governor of another state surrender an individual charged criminally in this state with having failed to provide for the support of an obligee, the governor of this state may require a prosecutor of this state to demonstrate that at least sixty…

This act takes effect January 1, 2007.[ 2006 c 96 s 1; 2002 c 198 s 906.]

In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it.[ 2002 c 198 s 903.]Notes:Effective date—2002 c 198: See RCW 26.21A.900.

This act applies to proceedings begun on or after July 1, 2015, to establish a support order or determine parentage of a child or to register, recognize, enforce, or modify a prior support order, determination, or agreement, whenever issued or entered.[ 2015 c 214 s 60.]Notes:Eff…

Captions, part headings, and articles used in this act are not any part of the law.[ 2002 c 198 s 902.]Notes:Effective date—2002 c 198: See RCW 26.21A.900.

The legislature recognizes the financial impact on custodial parents and children when child support is not received on time, or in the correct amount. The legislature also recognizes the burden placed upon the responsible parent and the second family when enforcement action must…

The definitions contained in RCW 74.20A.020 shall be incorporated into and made a part of this chapter.(1) "Disposable earnings" means that part of the earnings of an individual remaining after the deduction from those earnings of an amount required by law to be withheld.(2) "Ear…

(1) There is created a Washington state support registry within the division of child support as the agency designated in Washington state to administer the child support program under Title IV-D of the federal social security act. The registry shall:(a) Provide a central unit fo…

(1) The division of child support, Washington state support registry shall operate a state case registry containing records of all orders establishing or modifying a support order that are entered after October 1, 1998.(2) The superior court clerk, the office of administrative he…

(1) The department of social and health services shall adopt rules for the distribution of support money collected by the division of child support. These rules shall:(a) Comply with Title IV-D of the federal social security act as amended by the personal responsibility and work …

(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (8) of this section, each insurer shall, not later than 10 days after opening a tort liability claim for bodily injury or wrongful death, a workers' compensation claim, or a claim under a policy of life insurance, exchange informa…

An insurance company may comply with the obligation to exchange information with the division of child support described in RCW 26.23.037(1) by using an insurance claim data collection organization as described in RCW 26.23.037(2).[ 2021 c 168 s 3.]Notes:Findings—Rules—Effective …

(1) All employers doing business in the state of Washington shall report to the Washington state support registry:(a) The hiring of any person who resides or works in this state to whom the employer anticipates paying earnings and who:(i) Has not previously been employed by the e…

(1) The division of child support, Washington state support registry, shall provide support enforcement services under the following circumstances:(a) Whenever public assistance under RCW 74.20.330 is paid;(b) Whenever a request for support enforcement services under RCW 74.20.04…

(1) If the division of child support is providing support enforcement services under RCW 26.23.045, or if a party is applying for support enforcement services by signing the application form on the bottom of the support order, the superior court shall include in all court orders …

(1) Each party to a paternity or child support proceeding must provide the court and the Washington state child support registry with the confidential information form as required under RCW 26.23.050.(2) Each party to an order entered in a child support or paternity proceeding sh…

(1) The division of child support may issue an income withholding order:(a) As authorized by a support order that contains a notice clearly stating that child support may be collected by withholding from earnings, wages, or benefits without further notice to the obligated parent;…

(1) An employer who has been served with an income withholding order for a responsible parent under this chapter, or chapter 74.20A or 26.21A RCW, that includes a provision for payment toward child support arrears shall notify the division of child support before making any lump …

(1) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Electronic funds transfer" means any transfer of funds, other than a transaction originated or accomplished by conventional check, drafts, or similar paper inst…

(1) The employer or the employment security department may combine amounts withheld from the earnings of more than one responsible parent in a single payment to the Washington state support registry, listing separately the amount of the payment which is attributable to each indiv…

For any payment made by a check as defined in RCW 62A.3-104, if the instrument is dishonored under RCW 62A.3-515, the costs and fees authorized under RCW 62A.3-515 apply. The department may establish procedures and adopt rules to enforce this section.[ 2000 c 215 s 4.]

No employer shall discipline or discharge an employee or refuse to hire a person by reason of an action authorized in this chapter. If an employer disciplines or discharges an employee or refuses to hire a person in violation of this section, the employee or person shall have a c…

(1) The employer shall be liable to the Washington state support registry, or to the agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state, under Title IV-D of the federal social security act and issuing a notice, garnishment, or wage assignment attaching wages or …

(1) The responsible parent subject to a payroll deduction pursuant to this chapter, may file a motion in superior court to quash, modify, or terminate the payroll deduction.(2) Except as provided in subsections (4) and (5) of this section, the court may grant relief only upon a s…

(1) The department may serve a notice of support owed when a child support order:(a) Does not state the current and future support obligation as a fixed dollar amount;(b) Contains an escalation clause or adjustment provision for which additional information not contained in the s…

(1) Any information or records concerning individuals who owe a support obligation or for whom support enforcement services are being provided which are obtained or maintained by the Washington state support registry, the division of child support, or under chapter 74.20 RCW shal…

The department shall be given twenty calendar days prior notice of the entry of any final order and five days prior notice of the entry of any temporary order in any proceeding involving child support or maintenance if the department has a financial interest based on an assignmen…

The federal personal responsibility and work opportunity reconciliation act of 1996, P.L. 104-193, requires states to collect social security numbers as part of the application process for professional licenses, driver's licenses, occupational licenses, and recreational licenses.…

In order to assist in child support enforcement as required by federal law, all applicants for an original, replacement, or renewal of a professional license, commercial driver's license, occupational license, or recreational license must furnish the licensing agency with the app…

Sections 1 through 3 and 5 through 36 of this act shall take effect January 1, 1988.[ 1987 c 435 s 37.]

The legislature recognizes that Indian tribes are sovereign nations and the relationship between the state and the tribe is sovereign-to-sovereign.The federal government acknowledged the importance of including Indian tribes in child support systems established by the federal gov…