Rhode Island § 15-21-4 - Child Support Lien Act

§ 15-21-4. Notice of lien.

(a) To perfect a lien with respect to real property, the department shall file a notice of lien with the recorder of deeds for the city or town in which the property is located. The recorder of deeds shall index the notice of intent under the name of the obligor in the grantors index. The filing of a notice of intent of the lien or of a waiver or release of the lien shall be received and registered or recorded without payment of a fee.

(b) To perfect a child support lien with respect to personal property, the department shall file a notice of lien with the secretary of state’s office, the administrator of the division of motor vehicles, or any other office or agency within the state responsible for the filing or recording of liens. The filing of a notice of intent of the lien or of a waiver or release of the lien shall be received and registered or recorded without payment of a fee.

(c) If any obligor against whom a notice of intent to create a child support enforcement lien has been filed according to this section:

(1) Fails to request a hearing within the time frame provided;

(2) Fails to appear; or

(3) Neglects or refuses to pay the sum due after the expiration of thirty (30) days after a hearing is conducted by the department pursuant to § 15-21-3, at which the determination is made the obligor parent is in arrears.

(d) The notice of intent as filed shall be deemed and operate as a lien which is perfected by the department by the filing of a notice of lien. The notice of lien shall specify the property to be attached and the amount of the arrearage due and shall be filed in the office or city or town where the notice of intent was originally filed.

(e) The lien shall have priority over all subsequent liens or other encumbrances, subject to the provisions of § 6A-9-322 and with the exception of any lien for taxes. A child support lien that has been perfected shall encumber after acquired personal property or proceeds.

(f) If the collection of any unpaid child support will be jeopardized by delay or exigent circumstances, as defined by rules promulgated by the director, the department may apply to the family court for an order to restrain the obligor parent from encumbering, moving, selling, or in any way transferring any real or personal property which may be subject to the provisions of this section.

(g) The lien shall expire upon either termination of a current child support obligation and payment in full of unpaid child support or release of the lien by the department. In any event, a lien under this chapter shall not expire until satisfied and discharged. Expiration of the lien shall not terminate the underlying order or judgment of child support. The department may issue a full or partial waiver or partial release or full discharge of any lien imposed under this section and shall file the waiver, release, or discharge without fee in the city or town or office where the original lien was filed within ten (10) days of the obligor’s compliance with this section. The waiver or release or partial release or full discharge shall be conclusive evidence that the lien upon the property covered by the waiver or release is extinguished.

[See § 12-1-15 of the General Laws.]