49.856 Notification of delinquent payments.

(1) In this section:

(a) “Agency" means the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

(b) “Department" means the department of children and families.

(c) “Obligor" means a person who owes a delinquent child support, family support or maintenance payment or who owes an outstanding amount that has been ordered by a court for past support, medical expenses or birth expenses and that delinquent payment or outstanding amount is specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b).

(2) If an obligor receives a judgment against another person or has settled a lawsuit against another person that provides for the payment of money, the department or agency may send a notice to any person who is ordered to pay the judgment, who has agreed to the settlement or who holds the amount of the judgment or settlement in trust. The notice shall inform the person that the amount of the judgment or settlement due the obligor is subject to a lien by the department for the payment of the delinquent payment or outstanding amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b). The notification shall include the name and address of the obligor and the total amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b). Upon receipt of a notification, the person receiving the notification shall withhold an amount equal to the amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) before making any payment under the judgment or pursuant to the settlement.

(3) When the department or agency notifies a person under sub. (2), the department or agency shall send a notice to the last-known address of the obligor. The notice shall do all of the following:

(a) Inform the obligor that the department or agency notified the person who owes money to the obligor or who holds money in trust for the obligor under a judgment or pursuant to a settlement to withhold the amount that was specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) from any lump sum payment that may be paid to the obligor as a result of the judgment or settlement.

(b) Inform the obligor that he or she may request a hearing before the circuit court that rendered the order to pay support, maintenance, medical expenses or birth expenses within 20 business days after receipt of this notice. The request shall be in writing and the obligor shall mail or deliver a copy of the request to the agency.

(c) Inform the obligor that if a hearing is requested under par. (b) the department or agency will not require the person withholding the amount to send the amount to that department or agency until a final decision is issued in response to the request for a hearing.

(d) Request that the obligor inform the department or agency if a bankruptcy stay is in effect with respect to the obligor.

(4) If the obligor requests a hearing under sub. (3) (b), the circuit court shall schedule a hearing within 10 business days after receiving the request. The only issue at the hearing shall be whether the person owes the delinquent payment or outstanding amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b). A circuit court commissioner may conduct the hearing.

(5) Receipt of a notification by a person under sub. (2) shall constitute a lien, equal to the amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b), on any lump sum payment resulting from a judgment or settlement that may be due the obligor. The department or agency shall notify the person who received the notification under sub. (2) that the obligor has not requested a hearing or, if he or she has requested a hearing, of the results of that hearing, and of the responsibilities of the person who received the notification under sub. (2), including the requirement to submit the amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b). Use of the procedures under this section does not prohibit the department or agency from attempting to recover the amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) through other legal means. The department or agency shall promptly notify any person who receives notification under sub. (2) if the amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) has been recovered by some other means and no longer must be withheld from the judgment or settlement under this section.

(6) After receipt of notification by a person under sub. (2) and before receipt of notice from the department under sub. (5) that the amount specified in the statewide support lien docket under s. 49.854 (2) (b) has been otherwise recovered, no release of any judgment, claim or demand by the obligor shall be valid as against a lien created under sub. (5), and the person making any payment to the obligor to satisfy the judgment or settlement shall remain liable to the department for the amount of the lien.

History: 1997 a. 191; 2001 a. 61; 2007 a. 20.