§303. Income assignment; new orders; deviation

A. In all new child support orders after January 1, 1994, that are not being enforced by the Department of Children and Family Services, the court shall include as part of the order an immediate income assignment unless there is a written agreement between the parties or the court finds good cause not to require an immediate income assignment.

B. For purposes of this Section:

(1) "Written agreement" means a written alternative arrangement signed by both parents, reviewed by the court, and entered into the record of the proceedings.

(2) "Good cause" exists upon a showing by the respondent that any of the following exist:

(a) There has been no delinquency in payment of child support for the six calendar months immediately preceding the filing of the motion for modification of an existing child support order.

(b) The respondent is agreeable to a consent judgment authorizing an automatic ex parte immediate income assignment if he becomes delinquent in child support payments for a period in excess of one calendar month.

(c) The respondent is not likely to become delinquent in the future.

(d) Any other sufficient evidence which, in the court's discretion, constitutes good cause.

C. An income assignment order issued pursuant to this Section shall be payable through the Louisiana state disbursement unit for collection and disbursement of child support payments as provided in R.S. 46:236.11 and shall be governed by the same provisions as immediate income assignment orders that are being enforced by the department, including R.S. 46:236.1.1 et seq. All clerks of court in the state shall provide information to the state disbursement unit on income assignment orders issued pursuant to this Section. The department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this Section in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.

Acts 1993, No. 145, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1121, §1, eff. Oct. 1, 1998; Acts 2010, No. 238, §1.