§ 19-11-36.Required information in notice to obligor
Chapter 11. Enforcement of Duty of Support · Article 1. Child Support Recovery Act · Last amended 2017 · Last verified October 9, 2026
Full Text of § 19-11-36
Plain-English Summary
When the child support enforcement agency levies an account, the people with money in it have a right to know. This section says the agency shall notify an obligor subject to an administrative levy, as well as any other party known to have an interest in the account, of the action taken. That second group matters for joint accounts: a co-owner whose money is frozen gets notice too.
The notice shall contain eight items: (1) the obligor’s name and Social Security number; (2) a statement that the obligor is believed to have one or more accounts at a specified financial institution; (3) a statement that, under §§ 19-11-32 through 19-11-39, the accounts are subject to seizure and the institution is authorized and required to forward money to the agency or its collection services center; (4) the maximum amount to be forwarded, which shall not exceed the delinquent or accrued support owed; (5) the time frame within which the institution must comply; (6) a statement that any challenge shall be in writing and must be received by the agency within ten days of the date of the notice to the obligor; (7) the address of the agency office that will process the money; and (8) a telephone number, address and contact name for the office that started the action.
Item six is the one to act on. The challenge clock is short, and it runs from the date of the notice, not from when you read it. Note that § 19-11-37(b), which governs the challenge itself, describes the deadline as ten working days of the date of the notice, and requires that the challenge be directed to the contact person named in the notice. Filing well inside the shorter reading is the safe course. A timely challenge also matters because § 19-11-38 bars the bank from forwarding the frozen money once the agency tells it a challenge has been made.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to challenge a child support bank levy in Georgia?
The notice under this section must say that any challenge must be in writing and received by the agency within ten days of the date of the notice. Section 19-11-37(b) describes the deadline as ten working days of the date of the notice. Because the two read differently, the safest course is to get a written challenge to the named contact person well within ten days.
Will I be told if my joint account is levied for my spouse’s child support?
Yes. The agency shall notify not only the obligor but any other party known to have an interest in the account of the action taken. Under § 19-11-37(a), an account holder of interest may also challenge the levy. Joint account holders should know that § 19-11-37(c) presumes funds in a joint account belong to the obligor unless rebutted by clear and convincing evidence.
What information is in the child support levy notice I receive?
Eight items: the obligor’s name and Social Security number; that the obligor is believed to have accounts at a named financial institution; that the accounts are subject to seizure; the maximum amount to be forwarded; the time frame for the bank to comply; that any challenge must be in writing and received within ten days of the notice date; the address of the processing office; and a contact name, address and phone number.
Can I challenge a child support levy by phone?
No. The notice must state that any challenge to the action shall be in writing. Section 19-11-37(b) adds that the written challenge must be directed to the person identified in the notice as the contact with the child support enforcement agency. A phone call may help you understand the levy, but it isn’t a challenge.
Does the levy notice tell me how much will be taken?
Yes. It must state the maximum amount to be forwarded by the financial institution, which shall not exceed the delinquent or accrued amount of support owed by the obligor. If you believe that figure is too high, a mistake in the amount of delinquent support is a ground the agency must consider under § 19-11-37(c).
Amendment History
Laws 1997, p. 1613, § 31; Laws 2017, Act 242, § 2-3, eff. July 1, 2017.