ORS 25.245
Rebuttable presumption of inability to pay child support when parent receiving certain assistance payments

  • rules

(1)

Notwithstanding any other provision of Oregon law, a parent who is eligible for and receiving cash payments under ORS 412.001 (Definitions) to 412.069 (Appeal from denial of or failure to act on application or from modification or cancellation of aid), Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, the general assistance program as provided in ORS chapter 411 or a general assistance program of another state or tribe, the Oregon Supplemental Income Program or the federal Supplemental Security Income Program shall be rebuttably presumed unable to pay child support and a child support obligation does not accrue unless the presumption is rebutted.

(2)

Each month, the Department of Human Services shall identify those persons receiving cash payments under the programs listed in subsection (1) of this section that are administered by the State of Oregon and provide that information to the administrator. If benefits are received from programs listed in subsection (1) of this section that are administered by other states, tribes or federal agencies, the obligor shall provide the administrator with written documentation of the benefits. The Department of Human Services shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.

(3)

The administrator shall refer to the information provided in subsection (2) of this section prior to establishing any child support obligation. Within 30 days following identification of persons under subsection (2) of this section, the entity responsible for support enforcement services under ORS 25.080 (Entity primarily responsible for support enforcement services) shall provide notice of the presumption to the obligee and obligor and shall inform all parties to the support order that, unless a party objects as provided in subsection (4) of this section, child support shall cease accruing beginning with the support payment due on or after the date the obligor first begins receiving the cash payments and continuing through the support payment due in the last month in which the obligor received the cash payments. The entity responsible for support enforcement services shall serve the notice on the obligee in the manner provided for the service of summons in a civil action, by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by any other mail service with delivery confirmation and shall serve the notice on the obligor by first class mail to the obligor’s last-known address. The notice shall specify the month in which cash payments are first made and shall contain a statement that the administrator represents the state and that low cost legal counsel may be available.

(4)

A party may object to the presumption by sending an objection to the entity responsible for support enforcement services under ORS 25.080 (Entity primarily responsible for support enforcement services) within 30 days after the date of service of the notice. The objection must describe the resources of the obligor or other evidence that might rebut the presumption of inability to pay child support. The entity receiving the objection shall cause the case to be set for a hearing before a court or an administrative law judge. The court or administrative law judge may consider only whether the presumption has been rebutted.

(5)

If no objection is made, or if the court or administrative law judge finds that the presumption has not been rebutted, the Department of Justice shall discontinue billing the obligor for the period of time described in subsection (3) of this section and no arrearage shall accrue for the period during which the obligor is not billed. In addition, the entity providing support enforcement services shall file with the circuit court in which the support order or judgment has been entered a copy of the notice described in subsection (3) of this section or, if an objection is made and the presumption is not rebutted, a copy of the administrative law judge’s order.

(6)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Within 30 days after the date the obligor ceases receiving cash payments under a program listed in subsection (1) of this section, the Department of Justice shall provide notice to all parties to the support order:

(A)

Specifying the last month in which a cash payment was made;

(B)

Stating that the payment of those benefits has terminated and that by operation of law billing and accrual of support resumes; and

(C)

Informing the parties of their rights to request a review and modification of the support order based on a substantial change in circumstance or pursuant to ORS 25.287 (Proceedings to modify orders to comply with formula) or any other provision of law.

(b)

The notice shall include a statement that the administrator represents the state and that low cost legal counsel may be available.

(c)

The entity providing enforcement services shall file a copy of the notice required by paragraph (a) of this subsection with the circuit court in which the support order or judgment has been entered.

(7)

Receipt by a child support obligor of cash payments under any of the programs listed in subsection (1) of this section shall be sufficient cause for a court or administrative law judge to allow a credit and satisfaction against child support arrearage for months that the obligor received the cash payments.

(8)

The notice and finding of financial responsibility required by ORS 25.511 (Notice and finding of financial responsibility) shall include notice of the presumption, nonaccrual and arrearage credit rights provided for in this section.

(9)

The presumption, nonaccrual and arrearage credit rights created by this section shall apply whether or not child support enforcement services are being provided under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.

(10)

Application of the presumption, nonaccrual and arrearage credit rights created by this section does not constitute a modification but does not limit the right of any party to seek a modification of a support order based upon a change of circumstances or pursuant to ORS 25.287 (Proceedings to modify orders to comply with formula) or any other provision of law. In determining whether a change in circumstances has occurred or whether three years have elapsed, or such shorter cycle as determined by rule of the Department of Justice, since entry of a support order, the court or administrative law judge may not consider any action taken under this section as entry of a support order. The presumption stated in subsection (1) of this section applies in any modification proceeding. [1991 c.520 §3; 1993 c.799 §1; 1997 c.704 §24; 2001 c.104 §5; 2001 c.455 §6; 2003 c.75 §73; 2003 c.576 §299; 2007 c.861 §11; 2007 c.878 §3; 2009 c.80 §1; 2011 c.318 §2]

Source: Section 25.245 — Rebuttable presumption of inability to pay child support when parent receiving certain assistance payments; rules, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors025.­html.

Notes of Decisions

Support obligation of party on public assistance is terminated until modified, not merely suspended for duration of public assistance. Hofstetter and Hofstetter, 129 Or App 365, 879 P2d 220 (1994)

25.010
Definitions for support enforcement laws
25.011
“Address” defined
25.015
When payment on support order begins
25.020
When support payment to be made to Department of Justice
25.025
Annual notice to parties receiving services under ORS 25.020
25.030
When payment payable to bank account or escrow agent
25.070
Order may include payment of support enforcement fees
25.075
Cooperative agreements with Indian tribes or tribal organizations
25.080
Entity primarily responsible for support enforcement services
25.081
Access to records with Social Security number
25.082
Administrative subpoenas
25.083
High-volume automated administrative enforcement services
25.084
Assignment of rights or written application required for services
25.085
Service on obligee
25.088
Effect of dismissal of judicial proceeding on existing administrative order of support
25.089
Enforcement and modification of child support judgments
25.091
Multiple child support judgments
25.095
Later-issued child support judgment
25.100
Designation of auxiliary court in county where party resides or property located
25.110
Jurisdiction of designated auxiliary court
25.125
Disposition of support obligation overpayments
25.130
Election of alternative support payment method
25.140
Copies of new or modified support orders to department
25.150
Department to collect fees for services
25.160
Referral of support cases to department
25.164
Payment of support through Department of Justice
25.165
Application of support payments
25.166
Support payment due dates
25.167
Procedure for determining arrearages
25.170
Proceedings to require delinquent obligor to appear for examination of financial circumstances
25.180
Examination of obligor’s financial circumstances
25.190
Continuance of proceedings
25.200
Arrest of obligor for failure to appear
25.210
Use of obligor’s property for delinquent support payments
25.213
Assignment of proceeds of insurance policy to secure support obligation
25.220
Computer records of administrator
25.230
Court authorized to require security for support payments
25.240
Order to pay support by parent with legal custody of minor
25.241
Suspension of enforcement or holdback of moneys received during pendency of certain actions
25.243
Grievance procedure
25.245
Rebuttable presumption of inability to pay child support when parent receiving certain assistance payments
25.247
Rebuttable presumption of inability to pay child support when obligor incarcerated
25.260
Confidentiality of records
25.265
Access to information in Federal Parent Locator Service
25.270
Legislative findings
25.275
Formula for determining child support awards
25.280
Formula amount presumed correct
25.287
Proceedings to modify orders to comply with formula
25.290
Determining disposable income of obligor
25.321
Definitions for ORS 25.321 to 25.343
25.323
Medical support
25.325
Enforcing medical support
25.327
Service of medical support notice
25.329
Actions required after service of medical support notice
25.331
Obligation to withhold
25.333
Contesting medical support notice
25.335
Termination of support order
25.337
Liability
25.339
Priority of medical support notice
25.341
Notice of termination of employer’s relationship with providing party
25.342
Rules
25.343
Authorization for reimbursement payments
25.372
Applicability
25.375
Priority of withholding
25.378
Payment of support by income withholding
25.381
Establishing income withholding as method of paying support
25.384
Statement on withholding in support order
25.387
Withholding more than amount authorized by law
25.390
Amendment of support order not required for withholding
25.393
Remedy additional to other remedies
25.396
Exception to withholding
25.399
Notice of order to withhold
25.402
Service of order on withholder
25.405
Contesting order to withhold
25.408
Withholding is continuing obligation
25.411
When withholding begins
25.414
Standard amount to be withheld
25.417
Amount to be withheld when obligor paid more frequently than monthly
25.421
Procedure if withholder does not withhold support
25.424
Liability of withholder
25.427
Rules
25.501
Definitions for ORS 25.501 to 25.556
25.502
Policy
25.503
Parties to support proceedings
25.505
Authority of administrator and administrative law judge
25.507
Tribunals for establishment of paternity or for child support order
25.511
Notice and finding of financial responsibility
25.513
Hearings procedure
25.515
Past support
25.517
When order of support contingent on child residing in state financed or supported residence
25.525
Modification of order based on change in physical custody
25.527
Motions to modify financial responsibility orders
25.529
Filing order with court
25.531
Multiple child support judgments
25.533
Relief from compliance with order
25.540
Notice of intent to establish and enforce arrearages
25.542
Preventing transfer of assets to evade compliance with order
25.550
Establishing paternity of child
25.552
Certification of paternity issue to circuit or juvenile court
25.554
Reopening issue of paternity
25.556
Expeditious court hearings
25.575
Definitions for ORS 25.575 to 25.577
25.576
Order for support of adjudicated youth or other offender
25.577
Youth authority may enter into agreements for support enforcement services
25.610
Procedure to collect support orders from state tax refunds
25.620
Procedures to collect past due support from state tax refunds
25.625
Federal tax offset
25.640
Definitions for ORS 25.643 and 25.646
25.643
Disclosure of information on obligors by financial institutions
25.646
Disclosure of financial records of customers by financial institutions
25.650
Information on past due support to consumer reporting agencies
25.670
Judgment lien on personal property
25.680
Effect of lien
25.690
Foreclosure of lien
25.710
Duty of district attorney
25.715
Child support paid from security deposit
25.720
When support assignable
25.725
Child Support Deposit Fund
25.727
Garnishing income of person required to provide health insurance for child eligible under Medicaid
25.729
Application of laws to effectuate purposes of ORS chapter 110
25.750
Suspension of licenses, certificates, permits and registrations
25.752
Memberships in professional organizations that are required by state law
25.756
Identifying persons holding licenses, certificates, permits and registrations
25.759
Notice to persons subject to suspension
25.762
Agreement between obligor and administrator
25.765
Procedure if obligor contacts administrator within time limits
25.768
Judicial review of order
25.771
Obligor holding more than one license, certificate, permit or registration
25.774
Reinstatement
25.777
Reimbursing issuing entities for costs incurred
25.780
Other licenses, certificates, permits and registrations subject to suspension
25.783
Confidentiality of information
25.785
Issuing entities to require Social Security number
25.790
Hiring or rehiring individual
25.792
Confidentiality
25.793
Disclosure of employer-reported information
25.794
Verification of employment
25.990
Penalties
Green check means up to date. Up to date