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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>69701</law_id><section_number>63.2-1923</section_number><catch_line>Immediate withholding from income; exception; notices required</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>63.2-1926</reference><reference>63.2-1929</reference><reference>63.2-1930</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="5">Income Withholding</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">administrative support order</span> directing a <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span> to pay <span class="dictionary">child</span> or <span class="dictionary">child</span> and spousal support shall provide for immediate <span class="dictionary">income</span> withholding from the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">income</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/63.2-1900/">63.2-1900</a> of an amount for current support plus an amount to be applied toward <span class="dictionary">liquidation</span> of arrearages, if any, unless the <span class="dictionary">obligor</span> and the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>, on behalf of the <span class="dictionary">obligee</span>, agree to a written alternative payment arrangement, or good cause is shown. Good cause shall be based upon a written determination that, and explanation by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of why, implementing immediate withholding would not be in the best interests of the <span class="dictionary">child</span>. The total amount withheld shall not exceed the maximum amount permitted under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Maximum portion of disposable earnings subject to garnishment" href="/34-29/">34-29</a>. <a id="paragraph-251981" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1923/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The order shall include, but not be limited to, notice (i) of the amount that will be withheld, (ii) that the withholding applies to any current or subsequent period of <span class="dictionary">employment</span>, (iii) of the right to contest whether a duty of support is owed and the information specified in the <span class="dictionary">administrative order</span> is correct, (iv) that a written request to <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> the withholding shall be made to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> within 10 days of receipt of the notice, and (v) of the actions that will be taken by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> if an <span class="dictionary">appeal</span> is noted, which shall include the opportunity to present his objections to the administrative <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> officer at a <span class="dictionary">hearing</span> held pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Administrative hearing on notice of debt; withholdings; orders to withhold and deliver property to debtor; set-off debt collection" href="/63.2-1942/">63.2-1942</a>. Upon service of the order on the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> by first-class or certified mail, by <span class="dictionary">electronic means</span>, or by service 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>, the <span class="dictionary">employer</span> shall deliver the order to the <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>. <a id="paragraph-251982" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1923/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The <span class="dictionary">noncustodial parent</span>&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">employer</span> shall be issued by first-class or certified mail or by <span class="dictionary">electronic means</span>, including facsimile transmission, an <span class="dictionary">administrative order</span> for withholding of <span class="dictionary">income</span> which shall conform to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Information required in income deduction order" href="/20-79.3/">20-79.3</a>. The rights and responsibilities of an <span class="dictionary">employer</span> with respect to such <span class="dictionary">orders</span> are set out in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Information required in income deduction order" href="/20-79.3/">20-79.3</a>. <a id="paragraph-251983" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1923/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> <span class="dictionary">Administrative orders</span> for withholding from <span class="dictionary">income</span> shall be promptly terminated or modified by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> when (i) the obligation to support has been satisfied and arrearages have been paid, (ii) the whereabouts of the <span class="dictionary">child</span> or <span class="dictionary">child</span> and <span class="dictionary">custodial parent</span> become unknown, or (iii) modification is appropriate because of a change in the amount of the obligation. <a id="paragraph-251984" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/63.2-1923/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1988, c. 906, &#xA7; 63.1-258.1; 1990, c. 896; 1991, c. 334; 1995, c. 714; 1997, cc. 648, 663; 1998, c. 727; 2002, c. 747; 2003, c. 469; 2015, c. 52; 2016, c. 29.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
