Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20A.040 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) The secretary may issue a notice of a support debt accrued and/or accruing based upon RCW 74.20A.030, assignment of a support debt or a request for support enforcement services under RCW 74.20.040 (2) or (3), to enforce and collect a support debt created by a superior court order or administrative order. The payee under the order shall be informed when a notice of support debt is issued under this section.

(2) The notice may be served upon the debtor in the manner prescribed for the service of a summons in a civil action or be mailed to the debtor at his or her last known address by certified mail, return receipt requested, demanding payment within twenty days of the date of receipt.

(3) The notice of debt shall include:

(a) A statement of the support debt accrued and/or accruing, computable on the amount required to be paid under any superior court order to which the department is subrogated or is authorized to enforce and collect under RCW 74.20A.030, has an assigned interest, or has been authorized to enforce pursuant to RCW 74.20.040 (2) or (3);

(b) A statement that the property of the debtor is subject to collection action;

(c) A statement that the property is subject to lien and foreclosure, distraint, seizure and sale, or order to withhold and deliver; and

(d) A statement that the net proceeds will be applied to the satisfaction of the support debt.

(4) Action to collect a support debt by lien and foreclosure, or distraint, seizure and sale, or order to withhold and deliver shall be lawful after twenty days from the date of service upon the debtor or twenty days from the receipt or refusal by the debtor of said notice of debt.

(5) The secretary shall not be required to issue or serve such notice of support debt prior to taking collection action under this chapter when a responsible parent's support order:

(a) Contains language directing the parent to make support payments to the Washington state support registry; and

(b) Includes a statement that income-withholding action under this chapter may be taken without further notice to the responsible parent, as provided in RCW 26.23.050(1).

[ 2013 c 23 s 215; 1989 c 360 s 8; 1985 c 276 s 2; 1973 1st ex.s. c 183 s 5; 1971 ex.s. c 164 s 4.]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1973–2024 · leading case: In Re The Marriage Of: Roxanne Shortway, V William Shortway, 423 P.3d 270 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018).

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In Re The Marriage Of: Roxanne Shortway, V William Shortway, 423 P.3d 270 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 5× “RCW 74.20A.040; RCW 74.20A.055. Additionally, 8 No.”

Van Dyke v. Thompson, 630 P.2d 420 (Wash. 1981). · cites it 2× “The notice told Sidney that he could obtain a hearing by paying the amount for current and future support due under the Superior Court order, that the subject matter of the hearing was limited to the amount due, and that 20 days from service "your property, without further…”

Ashley v. Superior Court, 521 P.2d 711 (Wash. 1974). · cites it 2× “The legislature already, in cases involving child support, has paved the way for service by registered or certified mail by allowing the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services of the state to serve notice of delinquent child support upon the debtor "at his…”

Taylor v. Morris, 564 P.2d 795 (Wash. 1977). “RCW 74.20A.040 authorizes the secretary, where he is subrogated to or assigned a judgment created by a superior court order, to give notice of the department's claim and to enforce a lien against property of the debtor.”

Ashley v. Superior Court, 509 P.2d 751 (Wash. 1973). “The legislature already, in cases involving child support, *198 has paved the way for service by registered or certified mail by allowing the Secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services of the state to serve notice of delinquent child support upon the debtor “at…”

State v. Mireles, 871 P.2d 162 (Wash. Ct. App. 1994). “030(1), the State is subrogated to a child’s right to collect from his or her parent, and under RCW 74.20A.”

Austin Ferguson, V. Off. Of Admin Hearings/div Of Child Support, Et Ano (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “055(1) provides that DSHS may, “if there is no order that establishes a person’s support obligation or specifically relieves the person required to pay support of a support obligation .”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.20A.040(1) — 2 cases

In Re The Marriage Of: Roxanne Shortway, V William Shortway, 423 P.3d 270 (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 74.20A.040; RCW 74.20A.055. Additionally, 8 No.”

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