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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59512</law_id><section_number>63.2-1903</section_number><catch_line>Authority to issue certain orders; civil penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1913</reference><reference>63.2-1916</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="63.2">Welfare (Social Services)</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Administrative Child Support</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="19">Child Support Enforcement</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In the absence of a <span class="dictionary">court order</span>, the Department shall have the authority to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">orders</span> directing the payment of child and child and spousal support and, if available at <span class="dictionary">reasonable cost</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/63.2-1900/">63.2-1900</a>, to require a provision for <span class="dictionary">health care coverage</span>, including <span class="dictionary">Department-sponsored <span class="dictionary">health care coverage</span></span>, or <span class="dictionary">cash medical support</span>, or both, for dependent children of the parents, which shall include the requirements specified for <span class="dictionary">employers</span> pursuant to subdivision B 5 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Information required in income deduction order" href="/20-79.3/">20-79.3</a>. The Department shall have the authority to make available <span class="dictionary">Department-sponsored <span class="dictionary">health care coverage</span></span> for children receiving <span class="dictionary">child support services</span> from the Department. If it appears that the gross <span class="dictionary">income</span> of the <span class="dictionary">custodial parent</span> of the <span class="dictionary">dependent child</span> is equal to or less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level promulgated by the U.S. <span class="dictionary">Department of Health and Human Services</span> from time to time, the Department shall refer the <span class="dictionary">dependent child</span> to the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security plan pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan established" href="/32.1-351/">32.1-351</a>. However, prior to referring the <span class="dictionary">dependent child</span> to the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security plan, the Department shall confirm that neither parent has access to <span class="dictionary">health care coverage</span> at a <span class="dictionary">reasonable cost</span> for the <span class="dictionary">dependent child</span>. If a child is enrolled in <span class="dictionary">Department-sponsored <span class="dictionary">health care coverage</span></span>, the Department shall collect the cost of the coverage pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary" href="/20-108.2/">20-108.2</a>.
			In ordering the payment of child support, the Department shall set such support at the amount resulting from computation pursuant to the guideline set out in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary" href="/20-108.2/">20-108.2</a>, subject to the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Administrative establishment of obligations" href="/63.2-1918/">63.2-1918</a>. <a id="paragraph-218036" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> When a <span class="dictionary">payee</span> no longer has physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of a child, the Department shall have the authority to redirect child support payments to a <span class="dictionary">custodial parent</span> who has physical <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the child when an <span class="dictionary">assignment of rights</span> has been made to the Department or an application for services has been made by such <span class="dictionary">custodial parent</span> with the Division of Child Support Enforcement. <a id="paragraph-218037" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The Department shall have the authority, upon notice from the Department of Medical Assistance Services, to use any existing enforcement mechanisms provided by this chapter to collect the wages, salary, or other <span class="dictionary">employment</span> <span class="dictionary">income</span> or to withhold amounts from state tax refunds of any <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> who has not used payments received from a third <span class="dictionary">party</span> to reimburse, as appropriate, either the other parent of such child or the provider of such services, to the extent necessary to reimburse the Department of Medical Assistance Services. <a id="paragraph-218038" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The Department may order the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> and <span class="dictionary">payee</span> to notify each other or the Department upon request of current gross <span class="dictionary">income</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary" href="/20-108.2/">20-108.2</a> and any other pertinent information that may affect child support amounts. For good cause shown, the Department may order that such information be provided to the Department and made available to the parties for inspection in lieu of the parties&#x2019; providing such information directly to each other. The Department shall record the social security number of each <span class="dictionary">party</span> or control number issued to a <span class="dictionary">party</span> by the Department of Motor Vehicles pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="What license to contain; organ donor information; Uniform Donor Document" href="/46.2-342/">46.2-342</a> in the Department&#x2019;s file of the case. <a id="paragraph-218039" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The Department shall develop procedures governing the method and timing of periodic review and adjustment of child support <span class="dictionary">orders</span> established or enforced or both pursuant to Title IV-D of the Social Security Act, as amended. If there is an assignment under Title IV-A of the Social Security Act or at the request of either parent subject to the order, the Department shall initiate a review of such order every three years without requiring proof or showing of a change in circumstances and shall initiate appropriate action to adjust such order in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Guideline for determination of child support; quadrennial review by Child Support Guidelines Review Panel; executive summary" href="/20-108.2/">20-108.2</a> and subject to the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Administrative establishment of obligations" href="/63.2-1918/">63.2-1918</a>. <a id="paragraph-218040" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> In order to provide essential information for whatever establishment or enforcement actions are necessary for the collection of child support, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, the Director of the Division of Child Support Enforcement, and district managers of Division of Child Support Enforcement offices shall have the right to (i) <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> financial records of, or other information relating to, the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> and <span class="dictionary">obligee</span> from any person, firm, corporation, association, or political subdivision or department of the Commonwealth and (ii) <span class="dictionary">summons</span> the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> and <span class="dictionary">obligee</span> to appear in the Division&#x2019;s offices. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, Director, and district managers may also <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> copies of state and federal <span class="dictionary">income</span> tax returns. The district managers shall be trained in the correct use of the <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> process prior to exercising <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> authority. A civil <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> not to exceed $1,000 may be assessed by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> for a failure to respond to a <span class="dictionary">subpoena</span> issued pursuant to this subsection. <a id="paragraph-218041" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> In the absence of a <span class="dictionary">court order</span>, the Department may establish an <span class="dictionary">administrative support order</span> on an out-of-state <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> pursuant to subdivision A 8 or 9 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When personal jurisdiction over person may be exercised" href="/8.01-328.1/">8.01-328.1</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Bases for jurisdiction over nonresident" href="/20-88.35/">20-88.35</a>. The Department may also take action to enforce an administrative or <span class="dictionary">court order</span> on an out-of-state <span class="dictionary">obligor</span>. Service of such actions shall be in accordance with the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Manner of serving process upon natural persons" href="/8.01-296/">8.01-296</a>, <a class="law" title="Acceptance of service of process" href="/8.01-327/">8.01-327</a> or <a class="law" title="Service of process or notice; service on Secretary of Commonwealth" href="/8.01-329/">8.01-329</a> or by certified mail, return receipt requested, or <span class="dictionary">electronic means</span> in accordance with &#xA7; <a class="law" title="When delivery of notice to party at last known address may be deemed sufficient" href="/63.2-1917/">63.2-1917</a>. <a id="paragraph-218042" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="H"><p><span class="prefix-number">H.</span> If a support order has been issued in another state but the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span>, the <span class="dictionary">obligee</span>, and the child now live in the Commonwealth, the Department may (i) enforce the order without registration, using all enforcement remedies available under this chapter, and (ii) register the order in the appropriate tribunal of the Commonwealth for enforcement or modification. <a id="paragraph-218043" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1903/#H"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1985, c. 488, &#xA7; 63.1-250.1; 1986, c. 594; 1988, cc. 906, 907; 1989, c. 599; 1990, c. 836; 1991, cc. 651, 694; 1992, c. 716; 1994, cc. 729, 767; 1995, c. 595; 1996, cc. 491, 882, 925, 948; 1997, cc. 440, 467, 794, 796, 895, 898; 2002, cc. 747, 844; 2007, c. 600; 2009, cc. 125, 713; 2016, c. 29; 2020, c. 722; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 206.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
