Montana Code Annotated
Part 4. Child Support Enforcement Act Administrative Income Withholding
40-5-412. Delinquency income withholding

40-5-412. Delinquency income withholding. (1) (a) In the case of support orders not subject to immediate income withholding under 40-5-411, including cases in which the court or administrative authority has made a finding of good cause or determines that an alternative arrangement exists, the income of the obligor is subject to withholding under this part beginning on the day the obligor becomes delinquent in the payment of support.
(b) For purposes of this section, an obligor becomes delinquent 8 working days after the last day of the month in which the payment is due.
(c) Agreements or orders establishing a schedule for payment of delinquent support do not prevent income withholding under this part.
(2) (a) If the department determines that an obligor is delinquent, the department may notify the obligor that income withholding will be initiated if the delinquent amount is not received within 8 days of the date of the notice. If the obligor does not pay the delinquent amount within that time, the department may immediately send an order to withhold income to any payor. Notification that income withholding will be initiated if the delinquent amount is not received within 8 days of the date of the notice is not necessary if such a notice was given for a prior delinquency and the prior delinquency in fact existed. This notice is different from the notice required by subsection (2)(b).
(b) At the same time an order to withhold income is sent to a payor, the department shall notify the obligor as provided in 40-5-413 that income withholding has been initiated.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (1), income withholding must be initiated, without regard to whether there is a delinquency, on the earlier of:
(a) the date the obligor requests that withholding begin; or
(b) at the request of the obligee if the obligor is found, after an opportunity for hearing under 40-5-414, to be delinquent under the terms of an alternative arrangement for the payment of support.
(4) To accomplish the purpose of subsection (1), the department shall monitor all support payments not otherwise subject to immediate withholding. To facilitate monitoring, the department by written notice to the obligor may direct an obligor to pay all support through the department, notwithstanding a court order directing payments to be made to the obligee or clerk of court.
(5) The only basis for contesting withholding under this section is a mistake of fact, which does not include a mistake of fact relating to establishment of custody and visitation but includes a mistake:
(a) concerning the obligor's identity;
(b) concerning the existence of the support obligation;
(c) concerning the amount of support to be paid;
(d) in the determination that the obligor is delinquent in the payment of support;
(e) in computation of delinquent support amounts owed; or
(f) in the allegation that the obligor is in default of an alternative agreement.
(6) A mistake of fact under subsection (5) does not include mistakes relating to issues of paternity or establishment of custody and visitation.
History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 571, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 702, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 16, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 635, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 12, Ch. 482, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 72, Ch. 552, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 431, L. 2005.