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Section 46b-215 – (Formerly Sec. 17-320). Relatives obliged to furnish support. Attorney General and attorney for town as parties. Orders

May 15, 2021 | Connecticut, Family Law

(a)

(1) The Superior Court or a family support magistrate may make and enforce orders for payment of support against any person who neglects or refuses to furnish necessary support to such person’s spouse or a child under the age of eighteen or as otherwise provided in this subsection, according to such person’s ability to furnish such support, notwithstanding the provisions of section 46b-37. If such child is unmarried and a full-time high school student, such support shall continue according to the parents’ respective abilities, if such child is in need of support, until such child completes the twelfth grade or attains the age of nineteen, whichever occurs first.
(2) Any such support order in a IV-D support case shall include a provision for the health care coverage of the child. Such provision may include an order for either parent or both parents to provide such coverage under any or all of subparagraphs (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision.

(A) The provision for health care coverage may include an order for either parent to name any child as a beneficiary of any medical or dental insurance or benefit plan carried by such parent or available to such parent at a reasonable cost, as defined in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision. If such order requires the parent to maintain insurance available through an employer, the order shall be enforced using a National Medical Support Notice as provided in section 46b-88.
(B) The provision for health care coverage may include an order for either parent to:

(i) Apply for and maintain coverage on behalf of the child under the HUSKY Plan, Part B; or
(ii) provide cash medical support, as described in subparagraphs (E) and (F) of this subdivision. An order under this subparagraph shall be made only if the cost to the parent obligated to maintain coverage under the HUSKY Plan, Part B, or provide cash medical support is reasonable, as defined in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision. An order under clause (i) of this subparagraph shall be made only if insurance coverage as described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision is unavailable at reasonable cost to either parent, or inaccessible to the child.
(C) An order for payment of the child’s medical and dental expenses, other than those described in clause (ii) of subparagraph (E) of this subdivision, that are not covered by insurance or reimbursed in any other manner shall be entered in accordance with the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a.
(D) Health care coverage shall be deemed reasonable in cost if:

(i) The parent obligated to maintain such coverage would qualify as a low-income obligor under the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a, based solely on such parent’s income, and the cost does not exceed five per cent of such parent’s net income; or
(ii) the parent obligated to maintain such coverage would not qualify as a low-income obligor under such guidelines and the cost does not exceed seven and one-half per cent of such parent’s net income. In either case, net income shall be determined in accordance with the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a. If a parent obligated to maintain insurance must obtain coverage for himself or herself to comply with the order to provide coverage for the child, reasonable cost shall be determined based on the combined cost of coverage for such parent and such child.
(E) Cash medical support means

(i) an amount ordered to be paid toward the cost of premiums for health insurance coverage provided by a public entity, including the HUSKY Plan, Part A or Part B, except as provided in subparagraph (F) of this subdivision, or by another parent through employment or otherwise, or
(ii) an amount ordered to be paid, either directly to a medical provider or to the person obligated to pay such provider, toward any ongoing extraordinary medical and dental expenses of the child that are not covered by insurance or reimbursed in any other manner, provided such expenses are documented and identified specifically on the record. Cash medical support, as described in clauses (i) and (ii) of this subparagraph, may be ordered in lieu of an order under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision to be effective until such time as health insurance that is accessible to the child and reasonable in cost becomes available, or in addition to an order under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, provided the total cost to the obligated parent of insurance and cash medical support is reasonable, as described in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision. An order for cash medical support shall be payable to the state or the custodial party, as their interests may appear, provided an order under clause (i) of this subparagraph shall be effective only as long as health insurance coverage is maintained. Any unreimbursed medical and dental expenses not covered by an order issued pursuant to clause (ii) of this subparagraph are subject to an order for unreimbursed medical and dental expenses pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision.
(F) Cash medical support to offset the cost of any insurance payable under the HUSKY Plan, Part A or Part B, shall not be ordered against a noncustodial parent who is a low-income obligor, as defined in the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a, or against a custodial parent of children covered under the HUSKY Plan, Part A or Part B.
(3) Proceedings to obtain orders of support under this section shall be commenced by the service on the liable person or persons of a verified petition, with summons and order, of the husband or wife, child or any relative or the conservator, guardian or support enforcement officer, town or state, or any selectmen or the public official charged with the administration of public assistance of the town, or in IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, the Commissioner of Social Services. The verified petition, summons and order shall be filed in the judicial district in which the petitioner or respondent resides or does business, or if filed in the Family Support Magistrate Division, in the judicial district in which the petitioner or respondent resides or does business.
(4) For purposes of this section, the term “child” shall include one born out of wedlock whose father has acknowledged in writing paternity of such child or has been adjudged the father by a court of competent jurisdiction, or a child who was born before marriage whose parents afterwards intermarry.
(5) Said court or family support magistrate shall also have authority to make and enforce orders directed to the conservator or guardian of any person, or payee of Social Security or other benefits to which such person is entitled, to the extent of the income or estate held by such fiduciary or payee in any such capacity.
(6) Said court or family support magistrate shall also have authority to determine, order and enforce payment of any sums due under a written agreement to support against the person liable for such support under such agreement.
(7)

(A) The court or family support magistrate may also determine, order and enforce payment of any support due because of neglect or refusal to furnish support for periods prior to the action. In the case of a child born out of wedlock whose parents have not intermarried, a parent’s liability for such support shall be limited to the three years next preceding the filing of a petition or written agreement to support pursuant to this section.
(B) In the determination of support due based on neglect or refusal to furnish support prior to the action, the support due for periods of time prior to the action shall be based upon the obligor’s ability to pay during such prior periods, as determined in accordance with the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a. The state shall disclose to the court any information in its possession concerning current and past ability to pay. If no information is available to the court concerning past ability to pay, the court may determine the support due for periods of time prior to the action as if past ability to pay is equal to current ability to pay, if current ability is known. If current ability to pay is not known, the court shall determine the past ability to pay based on the obligor’s work history, if known, or if not known, on the state minimum wage that was in effect during such periods, provided only actual earnings shall be used to determine ability to pay for past periods during which the obligor was a full-time high school student or was incarcerated, institutionalized or incapacitated.
(C) Any finding of support due for periods of time prior to an action in which the obligor failed to appear shall be entered subject to adjustment. Such adjustment may be made upon motion of any party, and the state in IV-D cases shall make such motion if it obtains information that would have substantially affected the court’s determination of past ability to pay if such information had been available to the court. Motion for adjustment under this subparagraph may be made not later than twelve months from the date upon which the obligor receives notification of (i) the amount of such finding of support due for periods of time prior to the action, and (ii) the right not later than twelve months from the date of receipt of such notification to present evidence as to such obligor’s past ability to pay support for such periods of time prior to the action. A copy of any support order entered, subject to adjustment, shall state in plain language the basis for the court’s determination of past support, the right to request an adjustment and to present information concerning the obligor’s past ability to pay, and the consequences of a failure to request such adjustment.
(8)

(A) The judge or family support magistrate shall cause a summons, signed by such judge or magistrate, by the clerk of said court or Family Support Magistrate Division, or by a commissioner of the Superior Court to be issued requiring such liable person or persons to appear in court or before a family support magistrate, at a time and place as determined by the clerk but not more than ninety days after the issuance of the summons. Service may be made by a state marshal, any proper officer or any investigator employed by the Department of Social Services or by the Commissioner of Administrative Services. The state marshal, proper officer or investigator shall make due return of process to the court not less than twenty-one days before the date assigned for hearing. Upon proof of the service of the summons to appear in court or before a family support magistrate at the time and place named for hearing upon such petition, the failure of the defendant or defendants to appear shall not prohibit the court or family support magistrate from going forward with the hearing. If the summons and order is signed by a commissioner of the Superior Court, upon proof of service of the summons to appear in court or before a family support magistrate and upon the failure of the defendant to appear at the time and place named for hearing upon the petition, request may be made by the petitioner to the court or family support magistrate for an order that a capias mittimus be issued.
(B) In the case of a person supported wholly or in part by a town, the welfare authority of the town shall notify the responsible relatives of such person of the amount of assistance given, the beginning date thereof and the amount of support expected from each of them, if any, and if any such relative does not contribute in such expected amount, the superior court for the judicial district in which such town is located or a family support magistrate sitting in the judicial district in which such town is located may order such relative or relatives to contribute to such support, from the time of the beginning date of expense shown on the notice, such sum as said court or family support magistrate deems reasonably within each such relative’s ability to support such person.
(C) The court, or any judge thereof, or family support magistrate when said court or family support magistrate is not sitting, may require the defendant or defendants to become bound, with sufficient surety, to the state, town or person bringing the complaint, to abide such judgment as may be rendered on such complaint. Failure of the defendant or defendants to obey any order made under this section may be punished as contempt of court and the costs of commitment of any person imprisoned for contempt shall be paid by the state as in criminal cases. Except as otherwise provided, upon proof of the service of the summons to appear in court or before a family support magistrate at the time and place named for a hearing upon the failure of the defendant or defendants to obey such court order or order of the family support magistrate, the court or family support magistrate may order a capias mittimus be issued and directed to a judicial marshal to the extent authorized pursuant to section 46b-225, or any other proper officer to arrest such defendant or defendants and bring such defendant or defendants before the Superior Court for the contempt hearing. When any person is found in contempt under this section, the court or family support magistrate may award to the petitioner a reasonable attorney’s fee and the fees of the officer serving the contempt citation, such sums to be paid by the person found in contempt.
(9) In addition to or in lieu of such contempt proceedings, the court or family support magistrate, upon a finding that any person has failed to obey any order made under this section, may:

(A) Order a plan for payment of any past-due support owing under such order, or, in IV-D cases, if such obligor is not incapacitated, order such obligor to participate in work activities which may include, but shall not be limited to, job search, training, work experience and participation in the job training and retraining program established by the Labor Commissioner pursuant to section 31-3t;
(B) suspend any professional, occupational, recreational, commercial driver’s or motor vehicle operator’s license as provided in subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of section 46b-220, provided such failure was without good cause;
(C) issue an income withholding order against such amount of any debt accruing by reason of personal services as provided by sections 52-362, 52-362b and 52-362c; and
(D) order executions against any real, personal, or other property of such person which cannot be categorized solely as either, for payment of accrued and unpaid amounts due under such order.
(10) No entry fee, judgment fee or any other court fee shall be charged by the court or the family support magistrate to either party in proceedings under this section.
(11) Any written agreement to support which is filed with the court or the Family Support Magistrate Division shall have the effect of an order of the court or a family support magistrate.
(b) The Attorney General of the state of Connecticut and the attorney representing a town shall become a party for the interest of the state of Connecticut and such town in any proceedings for support which concerns any person who is receiving or has received public assistance or care from the state or any town. The Attorney General shall represent the IV-D agency in non-TFA IV-D support cases if the IV-D agency determines that such representation is required pursuant to guidelines issued by the Commissioner of Social Services.
(c) The court or a family support magistrate shall direct all payments on orders of support in IV-D cases to be made to the state acting by and through the IV-D agency. In IV-D support cases, the IV-D agency or a support enforcement agency under cooperative agreement with the IV-D agency may, upon notice to the obligor and obligee, redirect payments for the support of any child receiving child support enforcement services either to the state of Connecticut or to the present custodial party, as their interests may appear, provided neither the obligor nor the obligee objects in writing within ten business days from the mailing date of such notice. Any such notice shall be sent by first class mail to the most recent address of such obligor and obligee, as recorded in the state case registry pursuant to section 46b-218, and a copy of such notice shall be filed with the court or family support magistrate if both the obligor and obligee fail to object to the redirected payments within ten business days from the mailing date of such notice. All payments made shall be distributed as required by Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.
(d) No order for support made by the court or a family support magistrate shall be stayed by an appeal but such order shall continue in effect until a determination is made thereon upon such appeal; if however as a result of such appeal or further hearing, the amount of such order is reduced or vacated, such defendant shall be credited or reimbursed accordingly.
(e) Except as provided in sections 46b-301 to 46b-425, inclusive, any court or family support magistrate, called upon to enforce a support order, shall insure that such order is reasonable in light of the obligor’s ability to pay. Except as provided in sections 46b-301 to 46b-425, inclusive, any support order entered pursuant to this section, or any support order from another jurisdiction subject to enforcement by the state of Connecticut, may be modified by motion of the party seeking such modification upon a showing of a substantial change in the circumstances of either party or upon a showing that such support order substantially deviates from the child support guidelines established pursuant to section 46b-215a, unless there was a specific finding on the record that the application of the guidelines would be inequitable or inappropriate, provided the court or family support magistrate finds that the obligor or the obligee and any other interested party have received actual notice of the pendency of such motion and of the time and place of the hearing on such motion. There shall be a rebuttable presumption that any deviation of less than fifteen per cent from the child support guidelines is not substantial and any deviation of fifteen per cent or more from the guidelines is substantial. Modification may be made of such support order without regard to whether the order was issued before, on or after May 9, 1991. No such support orders may be subject to retroactive modification, except that the court or family support magistrate may order modification with respect to any period during which there is a pending motion for a modification of an existing support order from the date of service of the notice of such pending motion upon the opposing party pursuant to section 52-50. In any hearing to modify any support order from another jurisdiction the court or the family support magistrate shall conduct the proceedings in accordance with sections 46b-384 to 46b-387, inclusive.
(f) In IV-D support cases, as defined in subdivision (13) of subsection (b) of section 46b-231, a copy of any support order established or modified pursuant to this section or, in the case of a motion for modification of an existing support order, a notice of determination that there should be no change in the amount of the support order, shall be provided to each party and the state case registry within fourteen days after issuance of such order or determination.

Conn. Gen. Stat. ยง 46b-215

(1949 Rev., S. 2610; 1951, 1955, S. 1444d; September, 1957, P.A. 11, S. 20; 1959, P.A. 34; 1961, P.A. 307; 1967, P.A. 746, S. 4; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 29; P.A. 74-183, S. 216, 291; P.A. 75-103; P.A. 76-334, S. 10, 12; 76-436, S. 185, 681; P.A. 77-452, S. 9, 72; 77-594, S. 3, 7; 77-614, S. 70, 608, 610; P.A. 83-295, S. 14; P.A. 84-159, S. 4; P.A. 86-359, S. 33, 44; P.A. 87-316, S. 10; 87-589, S. 31, 87; P.A. 89-195, S. 3; P.A. 90-188, S. 5; 90-213, S. 32, 56; P.A. 91-76, S. 5, 7; 91-391, S. 6; P.A. 93-187, S. 4; 93-262, S. 72, 87; 93-396, S. 18; P.A. 95-310, S. 2, 9; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-1, S. 65, 75; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 107, 165; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-7, S. 25, 38; P.A. 99-279, S. 31, 45; P.A. 00-99, S. 95, 154; May 9 Sp. Sess. P.A. 02-7, S. 44; P.A. 03-258, S. 3; P.A. 04-100, S. 4; P.A. 06-149, S. 15 -17; P.A. 07-217, S. 173; 07-247, S. 57, 58; P.A. 11-214, S. 18, 19; 11-219, S. 6, 14; P.A. 15-71, S. 88.)

Amended by P.A. 15-0071, S. 88 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2015 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2015.
Amended by P.A. 11-0219, S. 14 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2011.
Amended by P.A. 11-0219, S. 6 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2011.
Amended by P.A. 11-0214, S. 19 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2011.
Amended by P.A. 11-0214, S. 18 of the the 2011 Regular Session, eff. 10/1/2011.

Annotations to former section 17-320: Relatives by affinity not liable. K. 155; 1 R. 250; 3 C. 553. Relatives not liable for past expenses. 3 Conn. 553; 7 C. 57; 32 C. 142. Action at common law does not lie against relatives. 1 R. 60; 3 C. 507. Not responsible to a town in which the pauper has no settlement. 3 Conn. 553. If supplies are furnished parent at request of children, they are liable in assumpsit. 32 Conn. 142. Not necessary for town to exhaust the remedies provided by this statute before taking a parent or pauper into custody under Sec. 17-276. 35 C. 538. A wife whose husband neglects to support her may bring an action against him for contribution towards her maintenance. 72 Conn. 157. Nature of remedy; costs. 73 C. 607. “Neglect to provide” is condition precedent to action. 78 Conn. 650; 124 C. 522. Place of support. 73 Conn. 607; 82 C. 611. Measure of support. 78 Conn. 650; 82 Conn. 611; 103 C. 6; 124 C. 524; 127 C. 506. When state should be a party plaintiff. 103 Conn. 6. A minor may properly be made a defendant and judgment rendered against him. Id., 3. A proceeding under statute is entirely different from a criminal prosecution for nonsupport. 91 C. 10. Application to question of dependency of mother on minor son under workmen’s compensation act. 105 C. 420. Although statute may have no extraterritorial effect when neither party is resident of state, equitable relief allowed where property of defendant was subject to the jurisdiction. 111 C. 124. Held not necessary to meet precise terms of statute in equitable action for support, nor was husband’s duty limited by his income or to the amount public authorities required by statute to provide. 114 C. 575; 127 C. 503. Medical payment under workmen’s compensation act. 117 C. 282. Statute applies only to those whom it would be duty of town to support if not furnished by relatives. 123 C. 338. “Neglect to provide” imports more than a mere omission; it imports an omission accompanied by some kind of culpability. 124 C. 518; 128 C. 192. Mere ownership of property by relatives does not necessarily mean they are “able to provide” support. Id., 193. If working at gainful occupation might shorten life span, one is not precluded from seeking support. 134 C. 58. Mere failure on husband’s part to provide wife with support is not controlling on question of his liability; the test being the legal justification of his refusal. 144 Conn. 21. Action against father of supervising relative for needs of such relative. 145 C. 458. Imposition of obligation to support adult does not empower person so obligated to determine place where support shall be furnished. 152 C. 55. State policy has long been when a person is unable to support himself, support be provided for him by members of his family and is now expressed in this statute and Sec. 17-324. 156 Conn. 199. Once a child reaches 18, parents no longer have a legal duty to support the child. 168 C. 144. Cited. 175 Conn. 527. Demurrer in support action on ground that cause not brought where plaintiff resides, overruled where no indication that plaintiff wife relied on statute. 6 CS 87. The purpose of statute is to protect the public purse; and therefore, since no township is concerned with the support of a nonresident, the right of a nonresident to sue his relatives disappears. 7 CS 60. Married woman, living apart from her husband, may voluntarily for sufficient consideration relinquish her right to maintain an action for support. 14 CS 64; Id., 123. Essentially an equitable proceeding; plaintiff not entitled to jury trial. Id., 482. One who has a pecuniary interest which may be injuriously affected by the decree is an aggrieved person within statute. 15 CS 177. Existence of other remedies not ground for denying relief in an equitable action for support. 16 CS 68. In an action for support, obligation of defendant husband is limited to what he can afford to pay. Id., 465. Restrictions in will against widow of testator providing for support of their son void as against public policy. 19 CS 93. Cited. 31 CS 271. Wife may sue for husband’s medical expenses for which she is liable. 32 Conn.Supp. 156. Cited. 33 Conn.Supp. 44; 34 CS 284. Cited. 6 Conn. Cir. Ct. 688. Annotations to present section: Cited. 191 Conn. 468; 196 Conn. 403; 216 Conn. 85; 219 C. 28; 222 C. 699; 231 C. 1; 234 Conn. 194; 236 Conn. 582. Cited. 2 CA 251; Id., 270; 9 Conn.App. 327; 25 Conn.App. 563; 26 Conn.App. 174; Id., 737; 31 Conn.App. 214. A condition precedent to granting an order for payment of support under statute is the neglect or refusal to furnish necessary support to the minor child by the parents. 39 Conn.Supp. 35. Cited. 40 Conn.Supp. 6; Id., 349. Subsec. (a): Cited. 235 Conn. 82, 88. Calculation of retroactive child support order is based on obligor’s ability to pay during that period, not actual cost of support. 309 C. 390. Cited. 31 CA 761. Subdiv. (4) does not explicitly or implicitly require that the written acknowledgment of paternity be submitted as evidence in order for a magistrate to proceed on a support petition. 175 Conn.App. 632. Court has continuing power to enforce premajority support orders when child has reached age of majority. 45 CS 169.

See Sec. 46b-88 re National Medical Support Notice. See Sec. 46b-219 re child’s freedom from responsibility to support a deserting parent. See Sec. 51-348a re prosecution for nonsupport. See Sec. 52-56(d) re execution or service of capias mittimus in any precinct by state marshal of any precinct. See Sec. 53-304 re procedures when support not provided and penalties for failure to provide support.