A. A hearing shall be held at the time and place given on the notice of support debt served upon the obligor or the attorney for the obligor, with a duly qualified administrative law judge appointed for that purpose by the Department. The hearing shall be held in the county of residence of the custodial parent or guardian of the child or if the custodian resides out of state, the hearing shall be held in the county of residence of the obligor. The hearing shall be conducted according to rules promulgated by the Department. The rules shall provide to both parties the right to confront and cross-examine witnesses, to present witnesses, and to be represented by an attorney or other person. After the evidence has been presented at a hearing, the administrative law judge shall enter an order which shall be in writing and contain findings of fact and conclusions of law as to each contested issue. Each order shall include provisions requiring the obligor to inform the Division of the obligor's current address, the name and address of the obligor's current employer, and the obligor's access to health insurance and other insurance policy information. The order shall be submitted to the district office and to the obligor or the attorney for the obligor by hand delivery by the administrative law judge or by certificate of mailing, within twenty (20) days after the conclusion of the hearing.

B. If, during the hearing, the administrative law judge finds that the issues presented will require further consideration or evidence either administratively or through the district court before adjudication, the administrative law judge may enter a temporary order for child support, pending resolution of those issues during a subsequent administrative or court hearing. The temporary order shall be enforced until superseded by a final administrative order or district court order and may be filed in the office of the court clerk.

C. If an appeal is not perfected by the obligor or district office, the order of the administrative law judge shall be final, subject to collection action, and shall be filed in the office of the court clerk in the county of residence of the custodian of the child or, if the custodian resides out of state, in the county of residence of the obligor, or elsewhere as provided in this act. The administrative order shall be enforced by the district court in the same manner as an order of the district court.

D. If the obligor fails to appear for the hearing after proper service, an administrative order will be entered. The order shall include findings of facts and conclusions of law and shall be subject to collection action, and shall be filed in the office of the court clerk in the county of residence of the custodian of the child or, if the custodian resides out of state, in the county of the residence of the obligor, or elsewhere as provided in this act. The administrative order shall be enforced by the district court in the same manner as an order of the district court.

E. Any order for periodic support payments made pursuant to the provisions of this title shall be payable to the Division for as long as the Division is providing support enforcement. Thereafter, if TANF is not being paid, the custodian or guardian notifies the Division in writing that TANF services are no longer requested and/or the obligor has not applied for services, current support payments shall be redirected to the person or entity entitled to the support.

Added by Laws 1977, c. 173, § 5, emerg. eff. June 3, 1977. Amended by Laws 1984, c. 5, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1984; Laws 1986, c. 176, § 8, emerg. eff. May 15, 1986; Laws 1994, c. 365, § 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1997, c. 403, § 18, eff. Nov. 1, 1997.