§2351. Right of support enforcement when order exists
1. Subrogation of support rights. If a support order exists, the department is subrogated to the right of a dependent child or person having custody of the child named in the order to pursue any support action or administrative remedy to secure payment of the debt accrued or accruing under section 2301 and to enforce the order. The department is not required to seek an amendment to the support order to subrogate itself to the rights of the payee. The department is not required to file a motion to intervene or join in any court proceeding to subrogate itself to the rights of the payee and to be treated as a party in any further proceedings regarding the support order. Upon notice to the parties, the department may order an obligor or other payor of child support to redirect payments to the department if payments are owed to the department or another state pursuant to an assignment of support rights or if payments are otherwise required to be made through the department. A person who knowingly violates the department's order commits a civil violation for which the court may adjudge a forfeiture not to exceed $500 plus interest, attorney's fees and costs.
[PL 1997, c. 683, Pt. A, §10 (RPR).]
2. Limits on subrogation. When payment of public assistance for the benefit of a dependent child has ceased, that child, or a person having the custody of the child named in the order, may pursue any support action or administrative remedy to secure payment of any support arrearage that accrued before or after the period of receiving public assistance and that is not part of the debt under section 2301. The department may not be subrogated to this right.
[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 466, §19 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 466, §28 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 537, §45 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 537, §62 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 683, Pt. A, §10 (AMD).
Structure Maine Revised Statutes
TITLE 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Chapter 65: SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
Subchapter 2: ENFORCEMENT BY DEPARTMENT
Article 3: ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT
Subarticle 3: COLLECTION OF SUPPORT DEBT
19-A §2351. Right of support enforcement when order exists
19-A §2352. Notice of support debt when court order exists
19-A §2353. Expeditious procedure during stay
19-A §2354. Interest of debt due
19-A §2355. Notice of requirement of prompt payment
19-A §2358. Order to withhold and deliver
19-A §2359. Expedited income withholding
19-A §2360. Setoff of debts against lottery winnings
19-A §2360-A. Lump-sum settlement; workers' compensation claims
19-A §2360-B. Cooperative agreements between department and Penobscot Nation
19-A §2361. Order to appear and disclose
19-A §2362. Release of excess withheld
19-A §2363. Administrative seizure and disposition of property
19-A §2364. Foreclosure on liens
19-A §2365. Release of lien or order to withhold
19-A §2366. Employer or holder responsibility and liability
19-A §2367. Employee protected
19-A §2368. Assignment of earnings