Tex. Fam. Code § 158.501-158.506

TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 158, Subchapter F — ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING CHAPTER 158 • WITHHOLDING FROM EARNINGS FOR CHILD SUPPORT Subchapter F: ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING Sec. 158.501. ISSUANCE OF ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING. (a) The Title IV-D agency may initiate income withholding by issuing an administrative writ of withholding for the enforcement of an existing order as authorized by this subchapter. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (d), the Title IV-D agency is the only entity that may issue an administrative writ under this subchapter. (c) The Title IV-D agency may use the procedures authorized by this subchapter to enforce a support order rendered by a tribunal of another state regardless of whether the order has been registered under Chapter 159. (d) A domestic relations office may issue an administrative writ of withholding under this chapter in a proceeding in which the office is providing child support enforcement services. A reference in this code to the Title IV-D agency that relates to an administrative writ includes a domestic relations office, except that the writ must be in the form prescribed by the Title IV-D agency under Section 158.504. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 31, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 40, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 199 (H.B. 1182), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 199 (H.B. 1182), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2005. Sec. 158.502. WHEN ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING MAY BE ISSUED. (a) An administrative writ of withholding under this subchapter may be issued by the Title IV-D agency at any time until all current support, including medical support and dental support, child support arrearages, and Title IV-D servic er this subchapter may be issued by the Title IV-D agency at any time until all current support, including medical support and dental support, child support arrearages, and Title IV-D service fees authorized under Section 231.103 for which the obligor is responsible have been paid. The writ issued under this subsection may be based on an obligation in more than one support order. (b) The Title IV-D agency may issue an administrative writ of withholding that directs that an amount be withheld for an arrearage or adjusts the amount to be withheld for an arrearage. An administrative writ issued under this subsection may be contested as provided by Section 158.506. (c) The Title IV-D agency may issue an administrative writ of withholding as a reissuance of an existing withholding order on file with the court of continuing jurisdiction or a tribunal of another state. The administrative writ under this subsection is not subject to the contest provisions of Sections 158.505(a)(2) and 158.506. (d) The Title IV-D agency may issue an administrative writ of withholding to direct child support payments to the state disbursement unit of another state. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 31, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 41, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1247, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 35, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 550), Sec. 36, eff. September 1, 2018. Sec. 158.503. DELIVERY OF ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT TO EMPLOYER; FILING WITH COURT OR MAINTAINING RECORD. (a) An administrative writ of withholding issued under this subchapter may be delivered to an employer by mail or by electronic transmission. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called inistrative writ of withholding issued under this subchapter may be delivered to an employer by mail or by electronic transmission. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 1 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 158, Subchapter F — ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING (b) The Title IV-D agency shall: (1) not later than the third business day after the date of delivery of the administrative writ of withholding to an employer, file a copy of the writ, together with a signed certificate of service, in the court of continuing jurisdiction; or (2) maintain a record of the writ until all support obligations of the obligor have been satisfied or income withholding has been terminated as provided by this chapter. (b-1) The certificate of service required under Subsection (b)(1) may be signed electronically. (c) The copy of the administrative writ of withholding filed with the clerk of court must include: (1) the name, address, and signature of the authorized attorney or individual that issued the writ; (2) the name and address of the employer served with the writ; and (3) a true copy of the information provided to the employer. (d) The clerk of the court may charge a reasonable fee not to exceed $15 for filing an administrative writ under this section. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 32, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 116, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2001; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 42, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 508 (H.B. 1674), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 508 (H.B. 1674), Sec. 11, eff. September 1, 2011. Sec. 158.504. CONTENTS OF ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING. (a) The administrative writ of withholding must be in the form prescribed by the Title IV-D agency as required by this chapter and in a standard format authorized by INISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING. (a) The administrative writ of withholding must be in the form prescribed by the Title IV-D agency as required by this chapter and in a standard format authorized by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. (b) An administrative writ of withholding issued under this subchapter may contain only the information that is necessary for the employer to withhold income for child support, medical support, and dental support and shall specify the place where the withheld income is to be paid. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 33, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 43, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 550), Sec. 37, eff. September 1, 2018. Sec. 158.505. NOTICE TO OBLIGOR. (a) On issuance of an administrative writ of withholding, the Title IV-D agency shall send the obligor: (1) notice that the withholding has commenced, including, if the writ is issued as provided by Section 158.502(b), the amount of the arrearages, including accrued interest; (2) except as provided by Section 158.502(c), notice of the procedures to follow if the obligor desires to contest withholding on the grounds that the identity of the obligor or the existence or amount of arrearages is incorrect; and (3) a copy of the administrative writ, including the information concerning income withholding provided to the employer. (b) The notice required under this section may be sent to the obligor by: (1) personal delivery by a person designated by the Title IV-D agency; (2) first-class mail or certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the obligor's last known address; or (3) service of citation as in civil cases generally. (c) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 81, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1 tation as in civil cases generally. (c) Repealed by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 81, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 34, 81, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1023, Sec. 44, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 2 --- TEXAS FAMILY CODE Chapter 158, Subchapter F — ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING Sec. 158.506. CONTEST BY OBLIGOR TO ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT OF WITHHOLDING. (a) Except as provided by Section 158.502(c), an obligor receiving the notice under Section 158.505 may request a review by the Title IV-D agency to resolve any issue in dispute regarding the identity of the obligor or the existence or amount of arrearages. The Title IV-D agency shall provide an opportunity for a review, by telephonic conference or in person, as may be appropriate under the circumstances. (b) After a review under this section, the Title IV-D agency may issue a new administrative writ of withholding to the employer, including a writ modifying the amount to be withheld or terminating withholding. (c) If a review under this section fails to resolve any issue in dispute, the obligor may file a motion with the court to withdraw the administrative writ of withholding and request a hearing with the court not later than the 30th day after receiving notice of the agency's determination. Income withholding may not be interrupted pending a hearing by the court. (d) If an administrative writ of withholding issued under this subchapter is based on an order of a tribunal of another state that has not been registered under Chapter 159, the obligor may file a motion with an appropriate court in accordance with Subsection (c). Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80t ordance with Subsection (c). Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 556, Sec. 35, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 36, eff. September 1, 2007. Sec. 158.507. ADMINISTRATIVE WRIT TERMINATING WITHHOLDING. An administrative writ to terminate withholding may be issued and delivered to an employer by the Title IV-D agency when all current support, including medical support and dental support, child support arrearages, and Title IV-D service fees authorized under Section 231.103 for which the obligor is responsible have been paid. Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 911, Sec. 67, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 972 (S.B. 228), Sec. 37, eff. September 1, 2007. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1150 (S.B. 550), Sec. 38, eff. September 1, 2018. Source: Texas Legislature Online (89th Leg., 2nd Called Sess., 2025) Page 3