Wash. Rev. Code » Title 74 · Chapter 74.20
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20.040 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) Whenever the department receives an application for public assistance on behalf of a child, the department shall take appropriate action under the provisions of this chapter, chapter 74.20A RCW, or other appropriate statutes of this state to establish or enforce support obligations against the parent or other persons owing a duty to pay support moneys.
(2) The secretary may accept a request for support enforcement services on behalf of persons who are not recipients of public assistance and may take appropriate action to establish or enforce support obligations against the parent or other persons owing a duty to pay moneys. The secretary may condition requests accepted under this subsection upon the payment of a fee as required by subsection (6) of this section or through regulation issued by the secretary. The secretary may establish[,] by regulation, reasonable standards and qualifications for support enforcement services provided to persons who are not currently receiving public assistance.
(3) The secretary may accept requests for support enforcement services from child support enforcement agencies in other states operating child support programs under Title IV-D of the social security act or from foreign countries, and may take appropriate action to establish and enforce support obligations, or to enforce subpoenas, information requests, orders for genetic testing, and collection actions issued by the other agency against the parent or other person owing a duty to pay support moneys, the parent or other person's employer, or any other person or entity properly subject to child support collection or information-gathering processes. The request shall contain and be accompanied by such information and documentation as the secretary may by rule require, and be signed by an authorized representative of the agency. The secretary may adopt rules setting forth the duration and nature of services provided under this subsection.
(4) The department may take action to establish, enforce, and collect a support obligation, including performing related services, under this chapter and chapter 74.20A RCW, or through the attorney general or prosecuting attorney for action under chapter 26.09, 26.18, 26.20, 26.21A, 26.26A, or 26.26B RCW or other appropriate statutes or the common law of this state.
(5) Whenever a support order is filed with the Washington state support registry under chapter 26.23 RCW, the department may take appropriate action under the provisions of this chapter, chapter 26.23 or 74.20A RCW, or other appropriate law of this state to establish or enforce the support obligations contained in that order against the responsible parent or other persons owing a duty to pay support moneys.
(6)(a) Effective October 1, 2019, the secretary shall impose an annual fee of thirty-five dollars for each case in which support enforcement services are furnished where:
(i) The person entitled to receive support has never received assistance under the temporary assistance for needy families program, the aid for dependent families and children program, or a tribal temporary assistance for needy families program; and
(ii) The state has collected at least five hundred fifty dollars of support.
(b) The annual fee shall be retained by the state from support collected on behalf of the person entitled to receive support, but not from the first five hundred fifty dollars of support.
(c) The secretary may, on showing of necessity, waive or defer any such fee or cost.
(7) Fees, due and owing, may be retained from support payments directly or collected as delinquent support moneys utilizing any of the remedies in this chapter, chapter 74.20A or 26.21A RCW, or any other remedy at law or equity available to the department or any agencies with whom it has a cooperative or contractual arrangement to establish, enforce, or collect support moneys or support obligations.
(8) The secretary may waive the fee, or any portion thereof, as a part of a compromise of disputed claims or may grant partial or total charge off of said fee if the secretary finds there are no available, practical, or lawful means by which said fee may be collected or to facilitate payment of the amount of delinquent support moneys or fees owed.
(9) The secretary shall adopt rules conforming to federal laws, including but not limited to complying with section 7310 of the federal deficit reduction act of 2005, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 654, and rules and regulations required to be observed in maintaining the state child support enforcement program required under Title IV-D of the federal social security act. The adoption of these rules shall be calculated to promote the cost-effective use of the agency's resources and not otherwise cause the agency to divert its resources from its essential functions.
[ 2019 c 275 s 4; 2019 c 46 s 5046; 2012 1st sp.s. c 4 s 1; 2011 1st sp.s. c 42 s 9; 2007 c 143 s 5; 1997 c 58 s 891; 1989 c 360 s 12; 1985 c 276 s 1; 1984 c 260 s 29; 1982 c 201 s 20; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 s 1; 1971 ex.s. c 213 s 1; 1963 c 206 s 3; 1959 c 322 s 5.]

Notes:

Reviser's note: This section was amended by 2019 c 46 s 5046 and by 2019 c 275 s 4, each without reference to the other. Both amendments are incorporated in the publication of this section under RCW 1.12.025(2). For rule of construction, see RCW 1.12.025(1).
Effective date—2012 1st sp.s. c 4: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 7, 2012." [ 2012 1st sp.s. c 4 s 3.]
Findings—Intent—Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 42: See notes following RCW 74.08A.260.
Finding—2011 1st sp.s. c 42: See note following RCW 74.04.004.
Severability—2007 c 143: See note following RCW 26.18.170.
Short title—Part headings, captions, table of contents not law—Exemptions and waivers from federal law—Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—1997 c 58: See RCW 74.08A.900 through 74.08A.904.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 16 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1981–2021 · leading case: In Re the Marriage of Johnson, 634 P.2d 877 (Wash. 1981).
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In Re the Marriage of Johnson, 634 P.2d 877 (Wash. 1981). · cites it 24× “RCW 74.20.040 allows the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to collect past due child support for children not receiving public assistance.”
Rains v. State, Dept. of Shs, Dcs, 989 P.2d 558 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “045 and RCW 74.20.040(2). According to the State, these services were provided in accordance with the procedures established in WAC 388-14-300 and the actions taken by DCS did not violate Mr.”
Rains v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 98 Wash. App. 127 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “045 and RCW 74.20.040(2). According to the State, these services were provided in accordance with the procedures established in WAC-388-14-300 and the actions taken by DCS did not violate Mr.”
Burley v. Johnson, 658 P.2d 8 (Wash. Ct. App. 1983). “” 2 Former RCW 74.20.040 states in part: "Whenever the department of social and health services receives an application for public assistance on behalf of a child and it shall appear .”
In re the Marriage of Titterness, 890 P.2d 32 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 3× “RCW 74.20.040(3) provides that the State may accept requests for support enforcement services from child support enforcement agencies in other states .”
Matter of Marriage of Aldrich, 864 P.2d 388 (Wash. Ct. App. 1993). “RCW 74.20.040, .220, .330; RCW 74-.20A.030, .”
Washington State Hous. Fin. Comm'n v. O'Brien, 671 P.2d 247 (Wash. 1983). · cites it 2× “At issue in that case was the constitutionality of so much of RCW 74.20.040 as authorized the Department of Social and Health Services to collect past due child support for children not receiving public assistance.”
Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs. v. Handy, 813 P.2d 610 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “Howe requested nonassistance support enforcement services pursuant to RCW 74.20.040(2). October 1987: Ms. Howe filed a petition for dissolution in superior court.”
In Re MacGibbon, 161 P.3d 441 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “[6] RCW 74.20.040(2). See also 20 Washington Practice, Family and Community Property Law, sec.”
T.B. & K.B. v. S.G. & Dep't Of Soc. & Health Servs. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 3× “RCW 74.20.040(2). Indeed, to receive federal funding, the state is required to make nonassistance services available.”
MacGibbon v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 139 Wash. App. 496 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 74.20.040(2); see also 20 Kenneth W. Webee, Washington Practice: Family and Community Property Law § 36.”
Jill Fleck v. Charles Fleck & Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs. (Wash. Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2× “RCW 74.20.040. In cases in which the obligee does not receive public assistance, DSHS may establish, by regulation, reasonable standards and qualifications for support enforcement services.”
Show all 16 citing cases →
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20.040(1) — 2 cases
In Re: Tommy Darren Tyson, V Eliot Sands, Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
In Re: Tommy D. Tyson, V Delvia J. Abile, Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2021).
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20.040(2) — 9 cases
Rains v. State, Dept. of Shs, Dcs, 989 P.2d 558 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “045 and RCW 74.20.040(2). According to the State, these services were provided in accordance with the procedures established in WAC 388-14-300 and the actions taken by DCS did not violate Mr.”
Rains v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 98 Wash. App. 127 (Wash. Ct. App. 1999). “045 and RCW 74.20.040(2). According to the State, these services were provided in accordance with the procedures established in WAC-388-14-300 and the actions taken by DCS did not violate Mr.”
Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs. v. Handy, 813 P.2d 610 (Wash. Ct. App. 1991). “Howe requested nonassistance support enforcement services pursuant to RCW 74.20.040(2). October 1987: Ms. Howe filed a petition for dissolution in superior court.”
In Re MacGibbon, 161 P.3d 441 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “[6] RCW 74.20.040(2). See also 20 Washington Practice, Family and Community Property Law, sec.”
MacGibbon v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 139 Wash. App. 496 (Wash. Ct. App. 2007). “RCW 74.20.040(2); see also 20 Kenneth W. Webee, Washington Practice: Family and Community Property Law § 36.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20.040(3) — 1 case
In re the Marriage of Titterness, 890 P.2d 32 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “RCW 74.20.040(3) provides that the State may accept requests for support enforcement services from child support enforcement agencies in other states .”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20.040(4) — 2 cases
In re the Marriage of Titterness, 890 P.2d 32 (Wash. Ct. App. 1995). “RCW 74.20.040(3) provides that the State may accept requests for support enforcement services from child support enforcement agencies in other states .”
T.B. & K.B. v. S.G. & Dep't Of Soc. & Health Servs. (Wash. Ct. App. 2021). “RCW 74.20.040(2). Indeed, to receive federal funding, the state is required to make nonassistance services available.”
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