40-5-222. Support debt based upon support order -- notice -- contents -- action to collect. (1) The department may issue a notice of a support debt accrued or accruing based upon a support order. The notice may be served upon the obligor, in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action in accordance with the provisions of the Montana Rules of Civil Procedure, demanding payment within 20 days of the date of receipt.

(2) The notice of debt must include:

(a) a statement of the support debt accrued or accruing, computable on the amount required to be paid under any support order;

(b) a statement that the property of the debtor is subject to collection action;

(c) a statement that the property is subject to distraint and seizure and sale;

(d) a statement that the net proceeds will be applied to the satisfaction of the support debt; and

(e) a statement that the obligor is entitled to a fair hearing.

(3) Action to collect the support debt by distraint and seizure and sale is lawful after 20 days from the date of service upon the obligor or 20 days from the receipt or refusal by the debtor of the notice of debt.

(4) Within 20 days of the date of service of notice of support debt, the obligor may request a fair hearing as provided in 40-5-226.

(5) The department shall send a copy of the notice described in subsection (2) to the clerk of the district court for the judicial district in which the most recent support order was issued.

History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 612, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 188, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 41, Ch. 439, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 549, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 202, L. 2007.