The bill H. 3009 seeks to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws to improve the enforcement of alimony obligations by empowering the Department of Social Services' Division of Child Support Enforcement to act on these obligations upon referral from family court. It introduces a new section, 20-3-165, specifically for alimony enforcement and amends existing child support enforcement laws to ensure consistency in definitions and processes. The bill also allows for retroactive application of these changes, thereby enabling the collection of alimony obligations that have accrued within the past ten years.

In addition to establishing a lien for unpaid child support or alimony of $1,000 or more, the bill outlines the notification process for obligors, procedures for filing liens, and conditions for enforcement. It mandates cooperation from financial institutions in collecting unpaid obligations and allows the Department of Social Services to obtain marriage and death certificates at no charge for enforcement purposes. The bill also includes provisions for waivers of liens and judicial review of determinations made by the division. Overall, these amendments aim to streamline and enhance the mechanisms for enforcing alimony and child support obligations in South Carolina.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 20-3-165, 20-3-130, 63-17-710, 20-1-350
Latest Version: 20-3-165, 20-3-130, 63-17-710, 20-1-350
12/06/2024: 20-3-165, 20-3-130, 63-17-710, 20-1-350