In cases where there is an arrearage of child or spousal support in a Title IV-D child support case or in which a lien arises pursuant to § 36-5-901, the department is authorized, without further order of a court, to secure the assets of the obligor to satisfy the current obligation and the arrearage by:

(1) Intercepting or seizing periodic or lump-sum payments or benefits due the obligor:

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 36-5-904

  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Child: means an individual, whether over or under the age of majority, who is or is alleged to be owed a duty of support by the individual's parent or who is or is alleged to be the beneficiary of a support order directed to the parent. See Tennessee Code 36-5-2101
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • 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.
  • Obligor: means an individual, or the estate of a decedent that:
    (A) Owes or is alleged to owe a duty of support. See Tennessee Code 36-5-2101
  • Person: means an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, public corporation, government, or governmental subdivision, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Tennessee Code 36-5-2101
  • Property: includes both personal and real property. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • State: means a state of the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession under the jurisdiction of the United States. See Tennessee Code 36-5-2101
  • Tribunal: means a court, administrative agency, or quasi-judicial entity authorized to establish, enforce, or modify support orders or to determine parentage of a child. See Tennessee Code 36-5-2101
(A) From a state or local agency;
(B) From judgments of any judicial or administrative tribunal, settlements approved by any judicial or administrative tribunal, and lottery winnings;
(2) By attaching or seizing assets of the obligor or other person or entity held in financial institutions as defined in § 36-5-910;
(3) By attaching public and private retirement funds; and
(4) By imposing liens in accordance with § 36-5-901, and, in appropriate cases, by forcing the sale of the obligor’s legal or equitable interest in property and by distribution of the proceeds of such sale.