Title 9. Enforcement of Judgments · Division 1 · Chapter 9. Enforcement of Support Judgments · Last amended 2000 · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 689.030 gives a debtor levied on for a support obligation under Family Code § 17522 the same exemptions a judgment debtor would have, and gives third parties the same ownership or lien claims, with claims filed with the issuing local child support agency and heard in the superior court of the county where that agency is located.
(a)Whenever the local child support agency, pursuant to Section 17522 of the Family Code, levies upon property pursuant to a warrant or notice of levy for the collection of a support obligation:
(1)If the debtor is a natural person, the debtor is entitled to the same exemptions to which a judgment debtor is entitled. Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c), the claim of exemption shall be made, heard, and determined as provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 703.010) of Division 2 in the same manner as if the property were levied upon under a writ of execution.
(2)A third person may claim ownership or the right to possession of the property or a security interest in or lien on the property. Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (c) or as otherwise provided by statute, the third-party claim shall be made, heard, and determined as provided in Division 4 (commencing with Section 720.010) in the same manner as if the property were levied upon under a writ of execution.
(b)In the case of a warrant or notice of levy issued pursuant to Section 17522 of the Family Code, the claim of exemption or the third-party claim shall be filed with the local child support agency that issued the warrant or notice of levy.
(c)A claim of exemption or a third-party claim pursuant to this section shall be heard and determined in the court specified in Section 689.010 in the county where the local child support agency enforcing the support obligation is located.
Plain-English Summary
A support debtor keeps the same exemption rights an ordinary judgment debtor has. When the local child support agency levies on property under a Family Code § 17522 warrant or notice of levy to collect a support obligation, a natural-person debtor is entitled to the same exemptions a judgment debtor gets, claimed under the procedure in Chapter 4 (commencing with § 703.010) of Division 2. A third party asserting ownership, a right to possession, or a security interest or lien in the property can raise that claim under the third-party-claim procedure in Division 4 (commencing with § 720.010).
Both kinds of claims get filed with the local child support agency that issued the warrant or notice of levy, not with the court directly — the same routing approach § 688.030 uses for state tax levies. But once filed, subdivision (c) sends the actual hearing to the court specified in § 689.010, in the county where the enforcing agency is located.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a debtor get exemption protection when a local child support agency levies on property?
Yes, if the debtor is a natural person, the debtor gets the same exemptions a judgment debtor would have, claimed under § 703.010 and following.
Where does a debtor file a claim of exemption against a support-collection levy?
With the local child support agency that issued the warrant or notice of levy.
Which court decides the exemption claim or third-party claim once it's filed?
The superior court specified in § 689.010, in the county where the local child support agency enforcing the obligation is located.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats 2000 ch 808 (AB 1358), s 7, eff. 9/28/2000.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:exemption claim child support levy californiathird party claim support enforcement