Source: https://chowins.com/resources/texas-family-laws/242-enforcement-of-child-custody-child-support-and-other-orders-texas-family-law
Timestamp: 2018-12-10 11:07:18
Document Index: 263385034

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Enforcement of Child Custody, Child Support and Other Orders - Texas Family Law - Chowins Law Firm, PLLC | Chowins Law Firm, PLLC
Enforcement Child Custody, Child Support and Other Orders
Texas Famly Law
PLEADINGS AND DEFENSES
§ 157.001. MOTION FOR ENFORCEMENT.
(a) A motion for enforcement as provided in this chapter may be filed to enforce any provision of a temporary or final order rendered in a suit.
(b) The court may enforce by contempt any provision of a temporary or final order.
(c) The court may enforce a temporary or final order for child support as provided in this chapter or Chapter 158.
(e) For purposes of this section, "temporary order" includes a temporary restraining order, standing order, injunction, and any other temporary order rendered by a court.
§ 157.002. CONTENTS OF MOTION.
(a) A motion for enforcement must, in ordinary and concise language:
(4) if the obligor owes arrearages for a child receiving assistance under Part A of Title IV of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 601 et seq.), may include a request that:
(B) if the obligor is already subject to a plan and is not incapacitated, the obligor participate in work activities, as defined under 42 U.S.C. § 607(d), that the court determines appropriate.
§ 157.003. JOINDER OF CLAIMS AND REMEDIES; NO ELECTION OF REMEDIES.
(a) A party requesting enforcement may join in the same proceeding any claim and remedy provided for in this chapter, other provisions of this title, or other rules of law.
§ 157.004. TIME LIMITATIONS; ENFORCEMENT OF POSSESSION.
The court retains jurisdiction to render a contempt order for failure to comply with the order of possession and access if the motion for enforcement is filed not later than the sixth month after the date:
§ 157.005. TIME LIMITATIONS; ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT.
(a) The court retains jurisdiction to render a contempt order for failure to comply with the child support order if the motion for enforcement is filed not later than the second anniversary of the date:
(b) The court retains jurisdiction to confirm the total amount of child support arrearages and render a cumulative money judgment for past-due child support, as provided by § 157.263, if a motion for enforcement requesting a cumulative money judgment is filed not later than the 10th anniversary after the date:
§ 157.006. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO MOTION FOR ENFORCEMENT.
(a) The issue of the existence of an affirmative defense to a motion for enforcement does not arise unless evidence is admitted supporting the defense.
§ 157.007. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO MOTION FOR ENFORCEMENT OF POSSESSION OR ACCESS.
(a) The respondent may plead as an affirmative defense to contempt for failure to comply with an order for possession or access to a child that the movant voluntarily relinquished actual possession and control of the child.
§ 157.008. AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSE TO MOTION FOR ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD SUPPORT.
(d) An obligor who has provided actual support to the child during a time subject to an affirmative defense under this § may request reimbursement for that support as a counterclaim or offset against the claim of the obligee.
§ 157.009. CREDIT FOR PAYMENT OF DISABILITY BENEFITS.
In addition to any other credit or offset available to an obligor under this title, if a child for whom the obligor owes child support receives a lump-sum payment as a result of the obligor's disability and that payment is made to the obligee as the representative payee of the child, the obligor is entitled to a credit. The credit under this § is equal to the amount of the lump-sum payment and shall be applied to any child support arrearage and interest owed by the obligor on behalf of that child at the time the payment is made.
§ 157.061. SETTING HEARING.
(a) On filing a motion for enforcement requesting contempt, the court shall set the date, time, and place of the hearing and order the respondent to personally appear and respond to the motion.
§ 157.062. NOTICE OF HEARING.
(a) The notice of hearing must include the date, time, and place of the hearing.
(c) Notice of hearing on a motion for enforcement of a final order providing for child support or possession of or access to a child, any provision of a final order rendered against a party who has already appeared in a suit under this title, or any provision of a temporary order shall be given to the respondent by personal service of a copy of the motion and notice not later than the 10th day before the date of the hearing. For purposes of this subsection, "temporary order" includes a temporary restraining order, standing order, injunction, and any other temporary order rendered by a court.
(d) If a motion for enforcement of a final order, other than a final order rendered against a party who has already appeared in a suit under this title, is joined with another claim:
§ 157.063. APPEARANCE.
A party makes a general appearance for all purposes in an enforcement proceeding if:
§ 157.064. SPECIAL EXCEPTION.
(a) If a respondent specially excepts to the motion for enforcement or moves to strike, the court shall rule on the exception or the motion to strike before it hears the motion for enforcement.
§ 157.065. NOTICE OF HEARING, FIRST CLASS MAIL.
(a) If a party has been ordered under Chapter 105 to provide the court and the state case registry with the party's current mailing address, notice of a hearing on a motion for enforcement of a final order or on a request for a court order implementing a postjudgment remedy for the collection of child support may be served by mailing a copy of the notice to the respondent, together with a copy of the motion or request, by first class mail to the last mailing address of the respondent on file with the court and the registry.
(b) The notice may be sent by the clerk of the court, the attorney for the movant or party requesting a court order, or any person entitled to the address information as provided in Chapter 105.
§ 157.066. FAILURE TO APPEAR.
FAILURE TO APPEAR; BOND OR SECURITY
§ 157.101. BOND OR SECURITY FOR RELEASE OF RESPONDENT.
(a) When the court orders the issuance of a capias as provided in this chapter, the court shall also set an appearance bond or security, payable to the obligee or to a person designated by the court, in a reasonable amount.
§ 157.102. CAPIAS OR WARRANT; DUTY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.
Law enforcement officials shall treat a capias or arrest warrant ordered under this chapter in the same manner as an arrest warrant for a criminal offense and shall enter the capias or warrant in the computer records for outstanding warrants maintained by the local police, sheriff, and Department of Public Safety. The capias or warrant shall be forwarded to and disseminated by the Texas Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center.
§ 157.103. CAPIAS FEES.
(a) The fee for issuing a capias as provided in this chapter is the same as the fee for issuance of a writ of attachment.
§ 157.104. CONDITIONAL RELEASE.
If the respondent is taken into custody and released on bond, the court shall condition the bond on the respondent's promise to appear in court for a hearing as required by the court without the necessity of further personal service of notice on the respondent.
§ 157.105. RELEASE HEARING.
(a) If the respondent is taken into custody and not released on bond, the respondent shall be brought before the court that issued the capias on or before the third working day after the arrest. The court shall determine whether the respondent's appearance in court at a designated time and place can be assured by a method other than by posting the bond or security previously established.
(a-1) The court may conduct the release hearing under Subsection (a) through the use of teleconferencing, videoconferencing, or other remote electronic means if the court determines that the method of appearance will facilitate the hearing.
§ 157.106. CASH BOND AS SUPPORT.
(a) If the respondent has posted a cash bond and is found to be in arrears in the payment of court-ordered child support, the court shall order that the proceeds of the cash bond be paid to the child support obligee or to a person designated by the court, not to exceed the amount of child support arrearages determined to exist.
(b) This § applies without regard to whether the respondent appears at the hearing.
§ 157.107. APPEARANCE BOND OR SECURITY OTHER THAN CASH BOND AS SUPPORT.
(a) If the respondent fails to appear at the hearing as directed, the court shall order that the appearance bond or security be forfeited and that the proceeds of any judgment on the bond or security, not to exceed the amount of child support arrearages determined to exist, be paid to the obligee or to a person designated by the court.
§ 157.108. CASH BOND AS PROPERTY OF RESPONDENT.
A court shall treat a cash bond posted for the benefit of the respondent as the property of the respondent. A person who posts the cash bond does not have recourse in relation to an order regarding the bond other than against the respondent.
§ 157.109. SECURITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ORDER.
(a) The court may order the respondent to execute a bond or post security if the court finds that the respondent:
§ 157.110. FORFEITURE OF SECURITY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ORDER.
(a) On the motion of a person or entity for whose benefit a bond has been executed or security deposited, the court may forfeit all or part of the bond or security deposit on a finding that the person who furnished the bond or security:
§ 157.111. FORFEITURE NOT DEFENSE TO CONTEMPT.
The forfeiture of bond or security is not a defense in a contempt proceeding.
§ 157.112. JOINDER OF FORFEITURE AND CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS.
A motion for enforcement requesting contempt may be joined with a forfeiture proceeding.
§ 157.113. APPLICATION OF BOND PENDING WRIT.
If the obligor requests to execute a bond or to post security pending a hearing by an appellate court on a writ, the bond or security on forfeiture shall be payable to the obligee.
§ 157.114. FAILURE TO APPEAR.
The court may order a capias to be issued for the arrest of the respondent if:
§ 157.115. DEFAULT JUDGMENT.
(a) The court may render a default order for the relief requested if the respondent:
HEARING AND ENFORCEMENT ORDER
§ 157.161. RECORD.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a record of the hearing in a motion for enforcement shall be made by a court reporter or as provided by Chapter 201.
§ 157.162. PROOF.
(a) The movant is not required to prove that the underlying order is enforceable by contempt to obtain other appropriate enforcement remedies.
§ 157.163. APPOINTMENT OF ATTORNEY.
(d-1) The court may conduct a hearing on the issue of indigency through the use of teleconferencing, videoconferencing, or other remote electronic means if the court determines that conducting the hearing in that manner will facilitate the hearing.
§ 157.164. PAYMENT OF APPOINTED ATTORNEY.
(a) An attorney appointed to represent an indigent respondent is entitled to a reasonable fee for services within the scope of the appointment in the amount set by the court.
§ 157.165. PROBATION OF CONTEMPT ORDER.
The court may place the respondent on community supervision and suspend commitment if the court finds that the respondent is in contempt of court for failure or refusal to obey an order rendered as provided in this title.
§ 157.166. CONTENTS OF ENFORCEMENT ORDER.
(a) An enforcement order must include:
§ 157.167. RESPONDENT TO PAY ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS.
(a) If the court finds that the respondent has failed to make child support payments, the court shall order the respondent to pay the movant's reasonable attorney's fees and all court costs in addition to the arrearages. Fees and costs ordered under this subsection may be enforced by any means available for the enforcement of child support, including contempt.
§ 157.168. ADDITIONAL PERIODS OF POSSESSION OR ACCESS.
(a) A court may order additional periods of possession of or access to a child to compensate for the denial of court-ordered possession or access. The additional periods of possession or access:
§ 157.211. CONDITIONS OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
If the court places the respondent on community supervision and suspends commitment, the terms and conditions of community supervision may include the requirement that the respondent:
(6) seek employment assistance services offered by the Texas Workforce Commission under § 302.0035, Labor Code, if appropriate; and
§ 157.212. TERM OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
The initial period of community supervision may not exceed 10 years. The court may continue the community supervision beyond 10 years until the earlier of:
§ 157.213. COMMUNITY SUPERVISION FEES.
(a) The court may require the respondent to pay a fee to the court in an amount equal to that required of a criminal defendant subject to community supervision.
§ 157.214. MOTION TO REVOKE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
A prosecuting attorney, the Title IV-D agency, a domestic relations office, or a party affected by the order may file a verified motion alleging specifically that certain conduct of the respondent constitutes a violation of the terms and conditions of community supervision.
§ 157.215. ARREST FOR ALLEGED VIOLATION OF COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
(a) If the motion to revoke community supervision alleges a prima facie case that the respondent has violated a term or condition of community supervision, the court may order the respondent's arrest by warrant.
§ 157.216. HEARING ON MOTION TO REVOKE COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
(a) The court shall hold a hearing without a jury not later than the third working day after the date the respondent is arrested under § 157.215. If the court is unavailable for a hearing on that date, the hearing shall be held not later than the third working day after the date the court becomes available.
(b) The hearing under this § may not be held later than the seventh working day after the date the respondent is arrested.
§ 157.217. DISCHARGE FROM COMMUNITY SUPERVISION.
(a) When a community supervision period has been satisfactorily completed, the court on its own motion shall discharge the respondent from community supervision.
§ 157.261. UNPAID CHILD SUPPORT AS JUDGMENT.
§ 157.263. CONFIRMATION OF ARREARAGES.
(c) If the amount of arrearages confirmed by the court reflects a credit to the obligor for support arrearages collected from a federal tax refund under 42 U.S.C. § 664, and, subsequently, the amount of that credit is reduced because the refund was adjusted because of an injured spouse claim by a jointly filing spouse, the tax return was amended, the return was audited by the Internal Revenue Service, or for another reason permitted by law, the court shall render a new cumulative judgment to include as arrearages an amount equal to the amount by which the credit was reduced.
§ 157.264. ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENT.
(a) A money judgment rendered as provided in this subchapter or a judgment for retroactive child support rendered under Chapter 154 may be enforced by any means available for the enforcement of a judgment for debts or the collection of child support.
§ 157.265. ACCRUAL OF INTEREST ON CHILD SUPPORT.
(a) Interest accrues on the portion of delinquent child support that is greater than the amount of the monthly periodic support obligation at the rate of six percent simple interest per year from the date the support is delinquent until the date the support is paid or the arrearages are confirmed and reduced to money judgment.
§ 157.266. DATE OF DELINQUENCY.
(a) A child support payment is delinquent for the purpose of accrual of interest if the payment is not received before the 31st day after the payment date stated in the order by:
§ 157.267. INTEREST ENFORCED AS CHILD SUPPORT.
Accrued interest is part of the child support obligation and may be enforced by any means provided for the collection of child support.
§ 157.268. APPLICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT PAYMENT.
Child support collected shall be applied in the following order of priority:
(6) the amount of any ordered attorney's fees or costs, or Title IV-D service fees authorized under § 231.103 for which the obligor is responsible.
§ 157.269. RETENTION OF JURISDICTION.
A court that renders an order providing for the payment of child support retains continuing jurisdiction to enforce the order, including by adjusting the amount of the periodic payments to be made by the obligor or the amount to be withheld from the obligor's disposable earnings, until all current support, medical support, dental support, and child support arrearages, including interest and any applicable fees and costs, have been paid.
§ 157.311. DEFINITIONS.
(4) "Financial institution" has the meaning assigned by 42 U.S.C. § 669a(d)(1) and includes a depository institution, depository institution holding company as defined by 12 U.S.C. § 1813(w), credit union, benefit association, insurance company, mutual fund, and any similar entity authorized to do business in this state.
§ 157.312. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) A claimant may enforce child support by a lien as provided in this subchapter.
(f) A foreclosure action under this subchapter is not required as a prerequisite to levy and execution on a judicial or administrative determination of arrearages as provided by § 157.327.
§ 157.313. CONTENTS OF CHILD SUPPORT LIEN NOTICE.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a child support lien notice must contain:
(11) a statement that the obligor is being provided a copy of the lien notice and that the obligor may dispute the arrearage amount by filing suit under § 157.323.
(e) A notice of a lien for child support under this § may be in the form authorized by federal law or regulation. The federal form of lien notice does not require verification when used by the Title IV-D agency.
§ 157.314. FILING LIEN NOTICE OR ABSTRACT OF JUDGMENT; NOTICE TO OBLIGOR.
(a) A child support lien notice or an abstract of judgment for past due child support may be filed by the claimant with the county clerk of:
§ 157.3145. SERVICE ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTION.
(a) Service of a child support lien notice on a financial institution relating to property held by the institution in the name of, or in behalf of, an obligor is governed by § 59.008, Finance Code, if the institution is subject to that law, or may be delivered to the registered agent, the institution's main business office in this state, or another address provided by the institution under § 231.307.
(b) A financial institution doing business in this state shall comply with the notice of lien and levy under this § regardless of whether the institution's corporate headquarters is located in this state.
§ 157.315. RECORDING AND INDEXING LIEN.
(a) On receipt of a child support lien notice, the county clerk shall immediately record the notice in the county judgment records as provided in Chapter 52, Property Code.
§ 157.316. PERFECTION OF CHILD SUPPORT LIEN.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a child support lien is perfected when an abstract of judgment for past due child support or a child support lien notice is filed or delivered as provided by § 157.314.
§ 157.317. PROPERTY TO WHICH LIEN ATTACHES.
(a) A child support lien attaches to all real and personal property not exempt under the Texas Constitution or other law, including:
(3) the proceeds of an insurance policy, including the proceeds from a life insurance policy or annuity contract and the proceeds from the sale or assignment of life insurance or annuity benefits, a claim for compensation, or a settlement or award for the claim for compensation, due to or owned by the obligor;
(4) property seized and subject to forfeiture under Chapter 59, Code of Criminal Procedure; and
(5) the proceeds derived from the sale of oil or gas production from an oil or gas well located in this state.
§ 157.3171. RELEASE OF LIEN ON HOMESTEAD PROPERTY.
(a) An obligor who believes that a child support lien has attached to real property of the obligor that is the obligor's homestead, as defined by § 41.002, Property Code, may file an affidavit to release the lien against the homestead in the same manner that a judgment debtor may file an affidavit under § 52.0012, Property Code, to release a judgment lien against a homestead.
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the obligor must comply with all requirements imposed by § 52.0012, Property Code. For purposes of complying with that section, the obligor is considered to be a judgment debtor under that § and the claimant under the child support lien is considered to be a judgment creditor under that section.
(c) For purposes of § 52.0012(d)(2), Property Code, and the associated text in the affidavit required by § 52.0012(f), Property Code, the obligor is required only to send the letter and affidavit described in those provisions to the claimant under the child support lien at the claimant's last known address.
(d) The claimant under the child support lien may dispute the obligor's affidavit by filing a contradicting affidavit in the manner provided by § 52.0012(e), Property Code.
(e) Subject to Subsection (f), an affidavit filed by an obligor under this § has the same effect with respect to a child support lien as an affidavit filed under § 52.0012, Property Code, has with respect to a judgment lien.
§ 157.318. DURATION AND EFFECT OF CHILD SUPPORT LIEN.
(a) Subject to Subsection (d), a lien is effective until all current support and child support arrearages, including interest, any costs and reasonable attorney's fees, and any Title IV-D service fees authorized under § 231.103 for which the obligor is responsible, have been paid or the lien is otherwise released as provided by this subchapter.
(b) The lien secures payment of all child support arrearages owed by the obligor under the underlying child support order, including arrearages that accrue after the lien notice was filed or delivered as provided by § 157.314.
§ 157.319. EFFECT OF LIEN NOTICE.
(a) If a person having actual notice of the lien possesses nonexempt personal property of the obligor that may be subject to the lien, the property may not be paid over, released, sold, transferred, encumbered, or conveyed unless:
(b) A person having notice of a child support lien who violates this § may be joined as a party to a foreclosure action under this chapter and is subject to the penalties provided by this subchapter.
(c) This § does not affect the validity or priority of a lien of a health care provider, a lien for attorney's fees, or a lien of a holder of a security interest. This § does not affect the assignment of rights or subrogation of a claim under Title XIX of the federal Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq.), as amended.
§ 157.320. PRIORITY OF LIEN AS TO REAL PROPERTY.
(a) A lien created under this subchapter does not have priority over a lien or conveyance of an interest in the nonexempt real property recorded before the child support lien notice is recorded in the county where the real property is located.
§ 157.321. DISCRETIONARY RELEASE OF LIEN.
A child support lien claimant may at any time release a lien on all or part of the property of the obligor or return seized property, without liability, if assurance of payment is considered adequate by the claimant or if the release or return will facilitate the collection of the arrearages. The release or return may not operate to prevent future action to collect from the same or other property owned by the obligor.
§ 157.322. MANDATORY RELEASE OF LIEN.
(a) On payment in full of the amount of child support due, together with any costs and reasonable attorney's fees, the child support lien claimant shall execute and deliver to the obligor or the obligor's attorney a release of the child support lien.
§ 157.323. FORECLOSURE OR SUIT TO DETERMINE ARREARAGES.
(a) In addition to any other remedy provided by law, an action to foreclose a child support lien, to dispute the amount of arrearages stated in the lien, or to resolve issues of ownership interest with respect to property subject to a child support lien may be brought in:
(1) the court in which the lien notice was filed under § 157.314(b)(1);
§ 157.324. LIABILITY FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ORDER OR LIEN.
A person who knowingly disposes of property subject to a child support lien or who, after a foreclosure hearing, fails to surrender on demand nonexempt personal property as directed by a court under this subchapter is liable to the claimant in an amount equal to the value of the property disposed of or not surrendered, not to exceed the amount of the child support arrearages for which the lien or foreclosure judgment was issued.
§ 157.325. RELEASE OF EXCESS FUNDS TO DEBTOR OR OBLIGOR.
(a) If a person has in the person's possession earnings, deposits, accounts, balances, or other funds or assets of the obligor, including the proceeds of a judgment or other settlement of a claim or counterclaim due to the obligor that are in excess of the amount of arrearages specified in the child support lien, the holder of the nonexempt personal property or the obligor may request that the claimant release any excess amount from the lien. The claimant shall grant the request and discharge any lien on the excess amount unless the security for the arrearages would be impaired.
§ 157.326. INTEREST OF OBLIGOR'S SPOUSE OR ANOTHER PERSON HAVING OWNERSHIP INTEREST.
(a) A spouse of an obligor or another person having an ownership interest in property that is subject to a child support lien may file suit under § 157.323 to determine the extent, if any, of the spouse's or other person's interest in real or personal property that is subject to:
§ 157.327. EXECUTION AND LEVY ON FINANCIAL ASSETS OF OBLIGOR.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a judgment or administrative determination of arrearages has been rendered, a claimant may deliver a notice of levy to any financial institution possessing or controlling assets or funds owned by, or owed to, an obligor and subject to a child support lien, including a lien for child support arising in another state.
(b) The notice under this § must:
(B) the obligor or another person files a suit under § 157.323 requesting a hearing by the court; or
(C) if the claimant is the Title IV-D agency, the obligor has requested an agency review under § 157.328.
(c) A financial institution that receives a notice of levy under this § may not close an account in which the obligor has an ownership interest, permit a withdrawal from any account the obligor owns, in whole or in part, or pay funds to the obligor so that any amount remaining in the account is less than the amount of the arrearages identified in the notice, plus any fees due to the institution and any costs of the levy identified by the claimant.
(d) A financial institution that receives a notice of levy under this § shall notify any other person having an ownership interest in an account in which the obligor has an ownership interest that the account has been levied on in an amount not to exceed the amount of the child support arrearages identified in the notice of levy.
(e) The notice of levy may be delivered to a financial institution as provided by § 59.008, Finance Code, if the institution is subject to that law or may be delivered to the registered agent, the institution's main business office in this state, or another address provided by the institution under § 231.307.
§ 157.3271. LEVY ON FINANCIAL INSTITUTION ACCOUNT OF DECEASED OBLIGOR.
(a) Subject to Subsection (b), the Title IV-D agency may, not earlier than the 90th day after the date of death of an obligor in a Title IV-D case, deliver a notice of levy to a financial institution in which the obligor was the sole owner of an account, regardless of whether the Title IV-D agency has issued a child support lien notice regarding the account.
(b) The Title IV-D agency may not deliver a notice of levy under this § if probate proceedings relating to the obligor's estate have commenced.
(2) the person may contest the levy by filing suit and requesting a court hearing in the same manner that a person may challenge a child support lien under § 157.323.
(f) The notice of levy may be delivered to a financial institution as provided by § 59.008, Finance Code, if the institution is subject to that law or may be delivered to the registered agent, the institution's main business office in this state, or another address provided by the institution under § 231.307.
§ 157.328. NOTICE OF LEVY SENT TO OBLIGOR.
(a) At the time the notice of levy under § 157.327 is delivered to a financial institution, the claimant shall serve the obligor with a copy of the notice.
(2) the obligor may contest the levy by filing suit under § 157.323 not later than the 10th day after the date of receipt of the notice.
(c) If the claimant is the Title IV-D agency, the obligor receiving a notice of levy may request review by the agency not later than the 10th day after the date of receipt of the notice to resolve any issue in dispute regarding the existence or amount of the arrearages. The agency shall provide an opportunity for a review, by telephone conference or in person, as appropriate to the circumstances, not later than the fifth business day after the date an oral or written request from the obligor for the review is received. If the review fails to resolve any issue in dispute, the obligor may file suit under § 157.323 for a hearing by the court not later than the fifth day after the date of the conclusion of the agency review. If the obligor fails to timely file suit, the Title IV-D agency may request the financial institution to release and remit the funds subject to levy.
(d) The notice under this § may be delivered to the last known address of the obligor by first class mail, certified mail, or registered mail.
§ 157.329. NO LIABILITY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH NOTICE OF LEVY.
A financial institution that possesses or has a right to an obligor's assets for which a notice of levy has been delivered and that surrenders the assets or right to assets to a child support lien claimant is not liable to the obligor or any other person for the property or rights surrendered.
§ 157.330. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH NOTICE OF LEVY.
(a) A person who possesses or has a right to property that is the subject of a notice of levy delivered to the person and who refuses to surrender the property or right to property to the claimant on demand is liable to the claimant in an amount equal to the value of the property or right to property not surrendered but that does not exceed the amount of the child support arrearages for which the notice of levy has been filed.
§ 157.331. ADDITIONAL LEVY TO SATISFY ARREARAGES.
If the property or right to property on which a notice of levy has been filed does not produce money sufficient to satisfy the amount of child support arrearages identified in the notice of levy, the claimant may proceed to levy on other property of the obligor until the total amount of child support due is paid.
§ 157.371. JURISDICTION.
(a) The relator may file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in either the court of continuing, exclusive jurisdiction or in a court with jurisdiction to issue a writ of habeas corpus in the county in which the child is found.
§ 157.372. RETURN OF CHILD.
(a) Subject to Chapter 152 and the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act (28 U.S.C. § 1738A), if the right to possession of a child is governed by a court order, the court in a habeas corpus proceeding involving the right to possession of the child shall compel return of the child to the relator only if the court finds that the relator is entitled to possession under the order.
§ 157.373. RELATOR RELINQUISHED POSSESSION; TEMPORARY ORDERS.
(a) If the relator has by consent or acquiescence relinquished actual possession and control of the child for not less than 6 months preceding the date of the filing of the petition for the writ, the court may either compel or refuse to order return of the child.
§ 157.374. WELFARE OF CHILD.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the court may render an appropriate temporary order if there is a serious immediate question concerning the welfare of the child.
§ 157.375. IMMUNITY TO CIVIL PROCESS.
(a) While in this state for the sole purpose of compelling the return of a child through a habeas corpus proceeding, the relator is not amenable to civil process and is not subject to the jurisdiction of any civil court except the court in which the writ is pending. The relator is subject to process and jurisdiction in that court only for the purpose of prosecuting the writ.
§ 157.376. NO EXISTING ORDER.
(a) If the right to possession of a child is not governed by an order, the court in a habeas corpus proceeding involving the right of possession of the child:
§ 157.421. CLARIFYING NONSPECIFIC ORDER.
(a) A court may clarify an order rendered by the court in a proceeding under this title if the court finds, on the motion of a party or on the court's own motion, that the order is not specific enough to be enforced by contempt.
§ 157.422. PROCEDURE.
(a) The procedure for filing a motion for enforcement of a final order applies to a motion for clarification.
§ 157.423. SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE NOT ENFORCEABLE.
(a) A court may not change the substantive provisions of an order to be clarified under this subchapter.
§ 157.424. RELATION TO MOTION FOR CONTEMPT.
The court may render a clarification order before a motion for contempt is made or heard, in conjunction with a motion for contempt, or after the denial of a motion for contempt.
§ 157.425. ORDER NOT RETROACTIVE.
The court may not provide that a clarification order is retroactive for the purpose of enforcement by contempt.
§ 157.426. TIME ALLOWED TO COMPLY.
(a) In a clarification order, the court shall provide a reasonable time for compliance.
TEXAS FAMILY CODE, TITLE 5. SUBTITLE B. CHAPTER 157.