1. A responsible person or the child support recovery unit may request a hearing regarding a determination of support. If a timely written request for a hearing is received, the administrator shall certify the matter to the district court as follows:

 a. If the child or children reside in Iowa, and the unit is seeking an accruing obligation, in the county in which the dependent child or children reside.
 b. If the child or children received public assistance in Iowa, and the unit is seeking only an accrued obligation, in the county in which the dependent child or children last received public assistance.
 c. If the action is the result of a request from another state or foreign country to establish support by a responsible person located in Iowa, in the county in which the responsible person resides.

Terms Used In Iowa Code 252C.4

  • Administrator: means the administrator of the child support recovery unit of the department of human services, or the administrator's designee. See Iowa Code 252C.1
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Court order: means a judgment or order requiring the payment of a set or determinable amount of monetary support. See Iowa Code 252C.1
  • 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
  • Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute mean the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See Iowa Code 4.1
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Medical support: means medical support as defined in section 252E. See Iowa Code 252C.1
  • 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.
  • Party: means a petitioner, a respondent, or a person who intervenes in a proceeding instituted under this chapter. See Iowa Code 252A.2
  • 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
  • Public assistance: means foster care costs paid by the department pursuant to chapter 234 or assistance provided pursuant to chapter 239B. See Iowa Code 252C.1
  • Responsible person: means a parent, relative, guardian, or another person legally liable for the support of a child or a child's caretaker. See Iowa Code 252C.1
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
 2. The certification shall include true copies of the notice and finding of financial responsibility or notice of the support debt accrued and accruing, the return of service, the written objections and request for hearing, and true copies of any administrative orders previously entered.
 3. The court shall set the matter for hearing and notify the parties of the time and place of hearing.
 4. The court shall establish the monthly child support payment and the amount of the support debt accrued and accruing pursuant to section 598.21B, or medical support pursuant to chapter 252E, or both.
 5. If a party fails to appear at the hearing, upon a showing of proper notice to that party, the court shall find that party in default and enter an appropriate order.
 6. Actions initiated by the administrator under this chapter are not subject to chapter 17A and resulting court hearings following certification shall be an original hearing before the district court.
 7. If a responsible person contests an action initiated under this chapter by denying paternity, the following shall apply, as necessary:

 a. (1) If the prior determination of paternity is based on an affidavit of paternity filed pursuant to section 252A.3A, or an administrative order entered pursuant to chapter 252F, or an order by the courts of this state, or by operation of law when the mother and established father are or were married to each other, the provisions of section 600B.41A are applicable.

 (2) If the court determines that the prior determination of paternity should not be overcome pursuant to section 600B.41A, and that the responsible person has a duty to provide support, the court shall enter an order establishing the monthly child support payment and the amount of the support debt accrued and accruing pursuant to section 598.21B, or medical support pursuant to chapter 252E, or both.
 b. If the prior determination of paternity is based on an administrative or court order or other means, pursuant to the laws of another state or foreign country, an action to overcome the prior determination of paternity shall be filed in that jurisdiction. Unless the responsible person requests and is granted a stay of an action initiated under this chapter to establish child or medical support, the action shall proceed as otherwise provided by this chapter.
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