1. If public assistance is provided by the department of human services 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 rights in, title to, and interest in any support obligation, payment, and arrearages owed to or on behalf of the child or caretaker not to exceed the amount of public assistance paid for or on behalf of the child or caretaker as follows:

 a. For family investment program assistance, section 239B.6 shall apply.
 b. For foster care services, section 234.39 shall apply.
 c. For medical assistance, section 252E.11 shall apply.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 252A.13

  • Child: includes but shall not be limited to a stepchild, foster child, or legally adopted child and means a child actually or apparently under eighteen years of age, and a dependent person eighteen years of age or over who is unable to maintain the person's self and is likely to become a public charge. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • clerk: means clerk of the court in which the action or proceeding is brought or is pending; and the words "clerk's office" mean the office of that clerk. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • Court: shall mean and include any court upon which jurisdiction has been conferred to determine the liability of persons for the support of dependents. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • Department: means the department of human services. See Iowa Code 249L.2
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • Dependent: shall mean and include a spouse, child, mother, father, grandparent, or grandchild who is in need of and entitled to support from a person who is declared to be legally liable for such support. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • Docket: A log containing brief entries of court proceedings.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • person: means individual, corporation, limited liability company, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association, or any other legal entity. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The department shall immediately notify the clerk of court by mail when such child or caretaker has been determined to be eligible for public assistance. Upon notification by the department, the clerk of court shall make a notation of the automatic assignment in the judgment docket and lien index. The notation constitutes constructive notice of the assignment. If the applicant for public assistance, for whom public assistance is approved and provided on or after July 1, 1997, is a person other than a parent of the child, the department shall send notice of the assignment by regular mail to the last known addresses of the obligee and obligor. The clerk of court shall forward support payments received pursuant to section 252A.6, to which the department is entitled, to the department, unless the court has ordered the payments made directly to the department under that section. The department may secure support payments in default through other proceedings.
 3. The clerk shall furnish the department with copies of all orders or decrees awarding and temporary domestic abuse orders addressing support when the parties are receiving public assistance or services are otherwise provided by the child support recovery unit. 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.
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