RCW 26.09.138
Mandatory assignment of public retirement benefits—Remedies exclusive.
(1) Any obligee of a court order or decree establishing a spousal maintenance obligation may seek a mandatory benefits assignment order under chapter 41.50 RCW if any spousal maintenance payment is more than fifteen days past due and the total of such past due payments is equal to or greater than one hundred dollars, or if the obligor requests a withdrawal of accumulated contributions from the department of retirement systems.
(2) Any court order or decree establishing a spousal maintenance obligation may state that, if any spousal maintenance payment is more than fifteen days past due and the total of such past due payments is equal to or greater than one hundred dollars, or if the obligor requests a withdrawal of accumulated contributions from the department of retirement systems, the obligee may seek a mandatory benefits assignment order under chapter 41.50 RCW without prior notice to the obligor. Any such court order or decree may also, or in the alternative, contain a provision that would allow the department to make a direct payment of all or part of a withdrawal of accumulated contributions pursuant to RCW 41.50.550(3). Failure to include this provision does not affect the validity of the court order or decree establishing the spousal maintenance, nor does such failure affect the general applicability of RCW 41.50.500 through 41.50.650 to such obligations.
(3) The remedies in RCW 41.50.530 through 41.50.630 are the exclusive provisions of law enforceable against the department of retirement systems in connection with any action for enforcement of a spousal maintenance obligation ordered pursuant to a divorce, dissolution, or legal separation, and no other remedy ordered by a court under this chapter shall be enforceable against the department of retirement systems for collection of spousal maintenance.
(4)(a) Nothing in this section regarding mandatory assignment of benefits to enforce a spousal maintenance obligation shall abridge the right of an ex spouse to receive direct payment of retirement benefits payable pursuant to: (i) A court decree of dissolution or legal separation; or (ii) any court order or court-approved property settlement agreement; or (iii) incident to any court decree of dissolution or legal separation, if such dissolution orders fully comply with RCW 41.50.670 and 41.50.700, or as applicable, RCW 2.10.180, 2.12.090, * 41.04.310, 41.04.320, 41.04.330, ** 41.26.180, 41.32.052, 41.40.052, or 43.43.310 as those statutes existed before July 1, 1987, and as those statutes exist on and after July 28, 1991.
(b) Persons whose dissolution orders as defined in RCW 41.50.500(3) were entered between July 1, 1987, and July 28, 1991, shall be entitled to receive direct payments of retirement benefits to satisfy court-ordered property divisions if the dissolution orders filed with the department comply or are amended to comply with RCW 41.50.670 through 41.50.720 and, as applicable, RCW 2.10.180, 2.12.090, ** 41.26.180, 41.32.052, 41.40.052, or 43.43.310.
[ 1991 c 365 § 24; 1987 c 326 § 26.]
NOTES:
Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 41.04.310, 41.04.320, and 41.04.330 were repealed by 1987 c 326 § 21, effective July 1, 1987.
**(2) RCW 41.26.180 was recodified as RCW 41.26.053 pursuant to 1994 c 298 § 5.
Severability—1991 c 365: See note following RCW 41.50.500.
Effective date—1987 c 326: See RCW 41.50.901.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 26.09 - Dissolution Proceedings—Legal Separation.
26.09.003 - Policy—Intent—Findings.
26.09.006 - Mandatory use of approved forms.
26.09.010 - Civil practice to govern—Designation of proceedings—Decrees.
26.09.015 - Mediation proceedings.
26.09.016 - Mediation in cases involving domestic violence or child abuse.
26.09.070 - Separation contracts.
26.09.080 - Disposition of property and liabilities—Factors.
26.09.090 - Maintenance orders for either spouse or either domestic partner—Factors.
26.09.100 - Child support—Apportionment of expense—Periodic adjustments or modifications.
26.09.105 - Child support—Medical support—Conditions.
26.09.120 - Support or maintenance payments—To whom paid.
26.09.135 - Order or decree for child support—Compliance with RCW 26.23.050.
26.09.138 - Mandatory assignment of public retirement benefits—Remedies exclusive.
26.09.140 - Payment of costs, attorneys' fees, etc.
26.09.165 - Court orders—Required language.
26.09.175 - Modification of order of child support.
26.09.181 - Procedure for determining permanent parenting plan.
26.09.182 - Permanent parenting plan—Determination of relevant information.
26.09.184 - Permanent parenting plan.
26.09.187 - Criteria for establishing permanent parenting plan.
26.09.191 - Restrictions in temporary or permanent parenting plans.
26.09.194 - Proposed temporary parenting plan—Temporary order—Amendment—Vacation of order.
26.09.197 - Issuance of temporary parenting plan—Criteria.
26.09.210 - Parenting plans—Interview with child by court—Advice of professional personnel.
26.09.220 - Parenting arrangements—Investigation and report—Appointment of guardian ad litem.
26.09.225 - Access to child's education and health care records.
26.09.231 - Residential time summary report.
26.09.255 - Remedies when a child is taken, enticed, or concealed.
26.09.260 - Modification of parenting plan or custody decree.
26.09.280 - Parenting plan or child support modification or enforcement—Venue.
26.09.285 - Designation of custody for the purpose of other state and federal statutes.
26.09.290 - Final decree of dissolution nunc pro tunc.
26.09.310 - Provision of health care to minor—Immunity of health care provider.
26.09.315 - Child custody issues—Abduction by parent—Information.
26.09.420 - Grant of authority.
26.09.430 - Notice requirement.
26.09.440 - Notice—Contents and delivery.
26.09.450 - Notice—Relocation within the same school district.
26.09.460 - Limitation of notices.
26.09.470 - Failure to give notice.
26.09.480 - Objection to relocation or proposed revised residential schedule.
26.09.490 - Required provision in residential orders.
26.09.500 - Failure to object.
26.09.520 - Basis for determination.
26.09.525 - Substantially equal residential time.
26.09.530 - Factor not to be considered.
26.09.540 - Objections by nonparents.
26.09.560 - Priority for hearing.
26.09.900 - Construction—Pending divorce actions.
26.09.901 - Conversion of pending action to dissolution proceeding.
26.09.902 - RCW 26.09.900 and 26.09.901 deemed in effect on July 16, 1973.
26.09.907 - Construction—Pending actions as of January 1, 1988.
26.09.909 - Decrees entered into prior to January 1, 1988.
26.09.910 - Short title—1987 c 460.
26.09.911 - Section captions—1987 c 460.
26.09.912 - Effective date—1987 c 460.
26.09.915 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.