1. If public assistance is provided by the department to or on behalf of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker, there is an assignment by operation of law to the department of any and all right in, title to, and interest in any support obligation, payment, and arrearages owed to or for the child or caretaker up to the amount of public assistance paid for or on behalf of the child or caretaker. Unless otherwise specified in the order, an equal and proportionate share of any child support awarded is presumed to be payable on behalf of each child subject to the order or judgment for purposes of an assignment under this section. For family investment program assistance, section 239B.6 shall apply.
2. The payment of public assistance to or for the benefit of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker creates a support debt due and owing to the department by the responsible person in an amount equal to the public assistance payment, except that the support debt is limited to the amount of a support obligation established by court order or by the department. The department may establish a support debt as to amounts accrued and accruing pursuant to section 598.21B. However, when establishing a support obligation\n\nTue Dec 09 22:19:48 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 252C (24, 0) §252C.2, CHILD SUPPORT DEBTS — ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES 2\n\nagainst a responsible person, no debt shall be created for the period during which the responsible person is a recipient on the person’s own behalf of public assistance for the benefit of the dependent child or the dependent child’s caretaker, if any of the following conditions exist:
a. The parents have reconciled and are cohabiting, and the child for whom support would otherwise be sought is living in the same residence as the parents.
b. The child is living with the parent from whom support would otherwise be sought.
3. The provision of child support collection or paternity determination services under chapter 252B to an individual, even though the individual is ineligible for public assistance, creates a support debt due and owing to the individual or the individual’s child or protected person by the responsible person in the amount of a support obligation established by court order or by the department. The department may establish a support debt in favor of the individual or the individual’s child or protected person and against the responsible person, both as to amounts accrued and accruing, pursuant to section 598.21B.
4. The payment of medical assistance pursuant to chapter 249A for the benefit of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker creates a support debt due and owing to the department. The department may establish an order for medical support.
5. The department is subrogated to the rights of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker to bring a court action or to execute an administrative remedy for the collection of support. The department may petition an appropriate court for modification of a court order on the same grounds as a party to the court order can petition the court for modification. 84 Acts, ch 1278, §2; 89 Acts, ch 166, §4; 92 Acts, ch 1195, §401, 402; 94 Acts, ch 1171, §20; 97 Acts, ch 175, §50; 2005 Acts, ch 69, §12, 13; 2008 Acts, ch 1019, §4, 7; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §873; 2024 Acts, ch 1009, §46 Referred to in §252C.3, 598.21B \n
Notes of Decisions
State Ex Rel. Heidick v. Balch, 533 N.W.2d 209 (Iowa 1995).
· cites it 7× “The court then subtracted Dennis’ obligation from Alyce’s, declaring this $68 difference to be what Alyce owed the State as Dennis’ assignee under Iowa Code section 252C.2. The CSRU filed a rule 179(b) motion to enlarge, amend, or modify concerning the district court’s…”
Shepherd v. Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d 237 (Iowa 1991).
· cites it 4× “Therein lies the key to Paul’s argument under both the federal and state statutes relating to exemption of social security benefits: Does the state’s claim for reimbursement of AFDC payments retain its nature as a claim for child support, or is it merely a claim for money due…”
State Ex Rel. Mack by Mack v. Mack, 479 N.W.2d 327 (Iowa 1992).
· cites it 4× “Iowa Code § 252C.2(2) (1989). Michele qualifies as a "responsible person” under the provisions of section 252C.”
Off. of Child Support Ex Rel. Lewis v. Lewis, 2004 VT 127 (Vt. 2004).
“The family court also erred by concluding that prior legal proceedings were not required by Iowa law or UIFSA before it could act on OCS’s petition.”
Hundt v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 545 N.W.2d 306 (Iowa 1996).
· cites it 6× “She received the benefits in the months of November 1987, December 1987, and January 1988 for her and her child. In December 1987 the child support recovery unit (CSRU), a division of DHS, filed in district court an administrative order for reimbursement and future support.”
Krause v. State Ex Rel. Iowa Dhs, 426 N.W.2d 161 (Iowa 1988).
· cites it 2× “In the absence of a court order, the director may issue a notice establishing and demanding payment of an accrued or accruing support debt due and owed to the department or an individual under section 252C.2. The notice shall be served upon the responsible person in accordance…”
Krause v. State ex rel. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 426 N.W.2d 161 (Iowa 1988).
· cites it 2× “In the absence of a court order, the director may issue a notice establishing and demanding payment of an accrued or accruing support debt due and owed to the department or an individual under section 252C.2. The notice shall be served upon the responsible person in accordance…”
Knickerbocker v. Norman, 938 F.2d 891 (8th Cir. 1991).
“The Court relied on Iowa Code § 252C.2(2), id., and concluded that under federal or state law “the nature of the debt remains one for child support.”
Ladawn R. Seward v. Troy P. Hane (Iowa Ct. App. 2016).
· cites it 3× “See Iowa Code § 252C.2(1) (2015) (“If public assistance is provided by the department to or on behalf of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker, there is an assignment by operation of law to the department of any and all right in, title to, and interest in any…”
Seward v. Hane (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).
· cites it 2× “See Iowa Code § 252C.2(1) (2013) (“If public assistance is provided by the department to or on behalf of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker, there is an assignment by operation of law to the department of any and all right in, title to, and interest in any…”
State ex rel. Benson v. Jager, 865 N.W.2d 608 (Iowa Ct. App. 2015).
“[Iówa Code] § 252C.2. The purpose of [section] 252C.2 is to allow the State to assert the same priorities when collecting a support debt that a parent could assert.”
— Iowa Code § 252C.2(1) — 4 cases
Shepherd v. Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d 237 (Iowa 1991).
“Therein lies the key to Paul’s argument under both the federal and state statutes relating to exemption of social security benefits: Does the state’s claim for reimbursement of AFDC payments retain its nature as a claim for child support, or is it merely a claim for money due…”
Hundt v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 545 N.W.2d 306 (Iowa 1996).
“She received the benefits in the months of November 1987, December 1987, and January 1988 for her and her child. In December 1987 the child support recovery unit (CSRU), a division of DHS, filed in district court an administrative order for reimbursement and future support.”
Ladawn R. Seward v. Troy P. Hane (Iowa Ct. App. 2016).
“See Iowa Code § 252C.2(1) (2015) (“If public assistance is provided by the department to or on behalf of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker, there is an assignment by operation of law to the department of any and all right in, title to, and interest in any…”
Seward v. Hane (Iowa Ct. App. 2017).
“See Iowa Code § 252C.2(1) (2013) (“If public assistance is provided by the department to or on behalf of a dependent child or a dependent child’s caretaker, there is an assignment by operation of law to the department of any and all right in, title to, and interest in any…”
— Iowa Code § 252C.2(2) — 6 cases
State Ex Rel. Mack by Mack v. Mack, 479 N.W.2d 327 (Iowa 1992).
“Iowa Code § 252C.2(2) (1989). Michele qualifies as a "responsible person” under the provisions of section 252C.”
Off. of Child Support Ex Rel. Lewis v. Lewis, 2004 VT 127 (Vt. 2004).
“The family court also erred by concluding that prior legal proceedings were not required by Iowa law or UIFSA before it could act on OCS’s petition.”
Shepherd v. Shepherd, 467 N.W.2d 237 (Iowa 1991).
“Therein lies the key to Paul’s argument under both the federal and state statutes relating to exemption of social security benefits: Does the state’s claim for reimbursement of AFDC payments retain its nature as a claim for child support, or is it merely a claim for money due…”
State Ex Rel. Heidick v. Balch, 533 N.W.2d 209 (Iowa 1995).
“The court then subtracted Dennis’ obligation from Alyce’s, declaring this $68 difference to be what Alyce owed the State as Dennis’ assignee under Iowa Code section 252C.2. The CSRU filed a rule 179(b) motion to enlarge, amend, or modify concerning the district court’s…”
Hundt v. Iowa Dep't of Human Servs., 545 N.W.2d 306 (Iowa 1996).
“She received the benefits in the months of November 1987, December 1987, and January 1988 for her and her child. In December 1987 the child support recovery unit (CSRU), a division of DHS, filed in district court an administrative order for reimbursement and future support.”
— Iowa Code § 252C.2(4) — 1 case
State Ex Rel. Heidick v. Balch, 533 N.W.2d 209 (Iowa 1995).
“The court then subtracted Dennis’ obligation from Alyce’s, declaring this $68 difference to be what Alyce owed the State as Dennis’ assignee under Iowa Code section 252C.2. The CSRU filed a rule 179(b) motion to enlarge, amend, or modify concerning the district court’s…”
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