Title 19-A: DOMESTIC RELATIONS

Part 3: PARENTS AND CHILDREN

Chapter 65: SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

Subchapter 2: ENFORCEMENT BY DEPARTMENT

Article 3: ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT

Subarticle 3: COLLECTION OF SUPPORT DEBT

§2357. Liens

1.  Judgment.  Twenty-one days after receipt by a responsible parent of a notice of debt under section 2352 or 30 days after the date of mailing to the responsible parent of a decision of the department that requires the responsible parent to pay child support, the amount stated in the notice of debt or in the decision is a judgment in favor of the department, the obligee, or both. The judgment is a lien against all property of the responsible parent. The lien is separate from and in addition to a lien filed under this section.  

[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

2.  Filing.  For real property, a lien is perfected when a notice of support lien is filed in the registry of deeds of the county or counties in which the real property is located. For personal property, including motor vehicles or other items for which a certificate of ownership is issued by the Secretary of State, the lien is perfected when a notice of support lien is delivered to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall mark, hold and index the notice of support lien as if it were a financing statement within the meaning of Title 11, section 9‑1102, subsection (39). The notice of support lien must state the name and address of the responsible parent, the amount of the child support debt accrued, the date of the decision or notice of debt by which the debt was assessed and the name and address of the authorized agent of the department who issued the notice.  

[PL 1999, c. 699, Pt. D, §17 (AMD); PL 1999, c. 699, Pt. D, §30 (AFF).]

3.  Effect.  A person who knows of a support lien may not pay over, release, sell, transfer, encumber or convey property that may be subject to the lien, unless:  

A. The commissioner waives or releases the lien in writing; or   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

B. A court of competent jurisdiction orders a release.   [PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

[PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF).]

4.  Order to seize and sell.  A lien under this section may be enforced or collected through an order to seize and sell under section 2203.  

[PL 1997, c. 669, §8 (AMD).]

5.  Notice and hearing prior to disposition.  When the department is provided with reliable information that another person, in addition to the responsible parent, has an ownership interest in the property of the responsible parent subject to a support lien, the department shall provide written notice to the other person before the foreclosure or other disposition of the property explaining that:  

A. The department has a support lien against the property; and   [PL 1997, c. 407, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 407, §5 (AFF).]

B. The person may request a hearing to establish the value of that person's interest in the property before the foreclosure or other disposition of the property.   [PL 1997, c. 407, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 407, §2 (AFF).]

[PL 1997, c. 407, §1 (NEW); PL 1997, c. 407, §5 (AFF).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. B, §2 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, Pt. E, §2 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 407, §1 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 407, §5 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 669, §8 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 699, Pt. D, §17 (AMD). PL 1999, c. 699, Pt. D, §30 (AFF).