Rule 5.335.Procedures for hearings on interstate income withholding orders

Division 1. Family Rules · Chapter 10. Government Child Support Cases (Title IV-D Support Cases) · Last amended 2021 · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.335 gives a support obligor a fee-free hearing to contest an out-of-state income withholding order, on a timetable the clerk must meet.

Full Text of Rule 5.335

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)

(a) Purpose

This rule provides a procedure for a hearing under Family Code section 5700.506 in response to an income withholding order.

(b) Filing of request for hearing

A support obligor may contest the validity or enforcement of an income withholding order by filing a completed request for hearing. A copy of the income withholding order must be attached.

The court must not require a filing fee to file the request for hearing under this rule.

(d) Creation of court file

Upon receipt of the completed request for hearing and a copy of the income withholding order, the clerk must assign a case number and schedule a court date. The court date must be no earlier than 30 days from the date of filing and no later than 45 days from the date of filing.

(e) Notice of hearing

The support obligor must provide the clerk with envelopes addressed to the obligor, the support enforcement agency that sent the income withholding order, and the obligor’s employer. The support obligor must also provide an envelope addressed to the person or agency designated to receive the support payments if that person or agency is different than the support enforcement agency that sent the income withholding order. The support obligor must provide sufficient postage to mail each envelope provided. Upon scheduling the hearing, the clerk must mail a copy of the request for hearing in each envelope provided by the support obligor.

(f) Use of court file in subsequent proceedings

Any subsequent proceedings filed in the same court that involve the same parties and are filed under the Uniform Interstate Family Support Act (UIFSA) must use the file number created under this rule.

(g) Definitions

As used in this rule:

(1) An “income withholding order” is the Order/Notice to Withhold Income for Child Support (form FL-195) issued by a child support enforcement agency in another state; and

(2) A “request for hearing” is the Request for Hearing Regarding Wage and Earnings Assignment (Family Law—Governmental—UIFSA) (form FL-450).

End

Plain-English Summary

An income withholding order issued by another state’s child support agency takes effect against a California employer. This rule is how the person paying support contests its validity or enforcement: file a completed request for hearing with a copy of the withholding order attached.

Two provisions keep the route open. The court must not require a filing fee for the request. And the clerk, on receiving it, must assign a case number and schedule a hearing no earlier than 30 and no later than 45 days from filing — a window, not a discretion.

Notice is done by envelope. The obligor supplies stamped envelopes addressed to themselves, the support enforcement agency that sent the order, and the employer — plus one to whoever receives the payments if that differs from the sending agency — and the clerk mails a copy of the request in each. Any later proceeding in the same court between the same parties under the interstate support act must use the file number created here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contest a wage withholding order from another state?

File a completed Request for Hearing Regarding Wage and Earnings Assignment (Family Law—Governmental—UIFSA) (form FL-450) with a copy of the income withholding order attached.

Is there a fee to contest it?

No. The court must not require a filing fee to file the request for hearing under this rule.

How soon is the hearing?

No earlier than 30 days and no later than 45 days from the date of filing.

Amendment History

Rule 5.335 amended effective September 1, 2021; adopted as rule 1280.7 effective July 1, 1999; previously amended and renumbered effective January 1, 2003; previously amended effective January 1, 2007.

(Subd (a) amended effective September 1, 2021; previously amended effective January 1, 2003.) (Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2003.) (Subd (d) amended effective January 1, 2003.) (Subd (e) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2003.) (Subd (f) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2003.) (Subd (g) amended effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2003.)

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California. Last verified September 10, 2026. · Official source

Also known as: contest income withholding order CaliforniaFL-450 request for hearinginterstate wage assignment hearingUIFSA withholding California