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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85197</law_id><section_number>63.2-1910</section_number><catch_line>Payment of foster care expenditures for child constitutes debt to local department by noncustodial parents; limitations; local department subrogated to rights</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-290</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="2">Public Assistance</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>Any payment by a <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or public agency designated by a community policy and management team for room, <span class="dictionary">board</span>, and <span class="dictionary">social services</span> for a <span class="dictionary">child</span> in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of, or placed with, the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or public agency designated by the community policy and management team, creates a <span class="dictionary">debt</span> due and owing to the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or public agency by the persons responsible for support of such <span class="dictionary">child</span> in an amount equal to the amount paid by the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or designated public agency and shall be assessable by the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or designated public agency. However, where there has been a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> for support, final <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce ordering support, or <span class="dictionary">administrative order</span> for support, the <span class="dictionary">debt</span> shall be limited to the amount of such order or <span class="dictionary">decree</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Commissioner may set amount of debt accrued where no court order or final divorce decree" href="/63.2-1922/">63.2-1922</a>, or the court, pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Support of committed juvenile; support from estate of juvenile" href="/16.1-290/">16.1-290</a>, shall establish the <span class="dictionary">debt</span> in an amount determined to be consistent with the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>&#x2019;s ability to pay. The Department, <span class="dictionary">local department</span>, or designated public agency shall have the right to <span class="dictionary">petition</span> the appropriate court for modification of a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> on the same grounds as either <span class="dictionary">party</span> to such cause.
		The Department shall be subrogated to the right of such <span class="dictionary">child</span> to <span class="dictionary">prosecute</span> or maintain any support action or execute any administrative remedy existing under the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> of the Commonwealth to obtain reimbursement of moneys thus expended, and may collect on behalf of any such <span class="dictionary">child</span> any amount contained in any <span class="dictionary">court order</span> of support or any <span class="dictionary">administrative order</span> of support regardless of whether or not the amount of such <span class="dictionary">orders</span> exceeds the total amount paid by the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or designated public agency. Any support paid in excess of the total amount shall be maintained in an account at the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or designated public agency on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. Any funds remaining in the account at the time that the <span class="dictionary">child</span> leaves foster care shall be paid either to the new legal guardian or to the <span class="dictionary">child</span> if he has been emancipated. If a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> for support or final <span class="dictionary">decree</span> of divorce ordering support enters <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> for an amount of support to be paid by such <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>, the Department shall be subrogated to the <span class="dictionary">debt</span> created by such order, and the money <span class="dictionary">judgment</span> shall be deemed to be in favor of the Department. In any judicial proceeding brought by an attorney on behalf of the Department pursuant to this section to enforce a support obligation in which the Department prevails, attorney&#x2019;s fees shall be assessed pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Recovery of certain fees and costs" href="/63.2-1960/">63.2-1960</a>.
		The Department shall have the authority to pursue establishment and enforcement actions against the persons responsible for support after the <span class="dictionary">local department</span> or designated public agency no longer has <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> or responsibility for <span class="dictionary">foster care placement</span>.
		<span class="dictionary">Debts</span> created by an <span class="dictionary">administrative support order</span> under this section shall not be incurred by nor at any time collected from a <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> who is the recipient of <span class="dictionary">public assistance</span> for the benefit of <span class="dictionary">minor</span> dependent children for the period such person is in such status. Recipients of federal supplemental security <span class="dictionary">income</span> shall not be subject to the establishment of an <span class="dictionary">administrative support order</span> while they receive benefits from that source.</p></section></text><history>1995, c. 817, &#xA7; 63.1-251.3; 2002, c. 747.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
