Child Support Lien Network (CSLN)

New Jersey Judiciary Probation Child Support Enforcement

Revised 2/9/2017

A. Authority  

New Jersey Statutes Annotated:

N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.23a N.J.S.A. 2A:17-56.23b Click here to find and view these New Jersey statutes

B. Overview

The CSLNChild Support Lien Network is a national database for the purpose of intercepting insurance settlements, awards and payments owed to delinquent child support obligors. These settlements include personal injury and worker’s compensation claims. The State of Rhode Island established the Child Support Lien Network in 1999 and the State of New Jersey joined the network in 2002.

In 2007 the Federal OCSEOffice of Child Support Enforcement Insurance Match Program established a similar partnership between insurers and child support agencies for the same purpose. Currently, OCSE matches with over 25 state workers’ compensation agencies and almost 1,000 insurance companies. The OCSE statewide matches are received regularly via the State Services Portal and forwarded to the CSLN vendor for processing.

This project is primarily the responsibility of the DFDDivision of Family Development, in cooperation with a vendor.

C. Selection Criteria

In order for a case to be selected, the following conditions must be met:

1. Arrears equal to or greater than $1000
2. Open IV-D case
3. Verified social security number
4. Valid interstate status
5. No CSLN exemption
6. No active bankruptcy
7. No open case closure chain

D. Notification Process

1. The CSLN and OCSE matches are received daily in NJKiDSNew Jersey’s Federally certified, statewide automated case management system for tracking all information related to child support cases. NJKiDS monitors cases to ensure that case actions are completed within required time frames. NJKiDS is also used to provide statistics, reports, and information about child and alimony/ spousal support enforcement in New Jersey to Federal, State, and local authorities. NJKiDS serves as the State Case Registry for IV-D support cases. by the DFD AEUAdministrative Enforcement Unit as a ‘pending CSLN levy” Action Alert. AEU performs a review to determine whether to approve the lien.
2. When AEU approves the lien, the Notice to Withhold Insurance Assets (CS610) is sent to the Insurance Company and on the same day the Notice to Obligor of Withholding of Insurance Assets (CS600), Waiver of Right to Contest (CS601) and CSLN Contest Form (CS602) are sent to the obligor.
3. The obligor has 30 calendar days to contest the lien.
4. If the obligor does not file a written contest with DFD or files the Waiver of Right to Contest, a Notice to Remit Assets (CS603) and Insurance Settlement Sheet (CS604) are forwarded to the Insurance Company. The Notice directs the payment to be sent to a designated address at the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center. If the payment is not received from the insurance company, DFD staff will send a Notice—Status of Insurance Claim, (CS611) requesting an update as to the status of the claim.
5. DFD staff provides posting instructions and confirms the CSLN payment is properly posted onto NJKiDS as receipt source “WC.”

E. Contesting CSLN

1. Upon receipt of a written contest, the Notice of Acknowledgment to Obligor of Contest Filed (CS606) is sent to the obligor and obligor’s attorney of CSLN Liaison.
2. DFD will attempt to resolve the contest with the documents provided by the obligor within 20 calendar days. If DFD requires further information from the obligor, the Request for Additional Information form (CS623) can be sent.
3. Based on the information provided by the obligor, DFD will make a determination as to the withholding of the insurance assets.
   1. If the obligor’s contest is denied and the lien is to proceed, the Notice to Remit Assets (CS603) and Insurance Settlement Sheet (CS604) must be generated and sent to the asset holder.
   2. If the contest is granted and the levy is being canceled, the Notice of Release of Lien (CS605) is generated and sent to the asset holder. In either instance, the Notice to Obligor of Contest Resolution and Right to Appeal (CS607) must be generated and sent. Once DFD sends a Notice of Contest Resolution and Right to appeal (CS607), the obligor has 45 calendar days to file an appeal with the Appellate Division of the Superior Court. An informational alert is sent to the PCSEProbation Child Support Enforcement CSLN Liaison when the Notice generates.
4. If the obligor files an appeal with the Appellate Division, DFD will generate the Notice to Obligor of Acknowledgement of Appeal (CS608) upon proof of the appeal filing. When the results of the appeal are received, DFD staff must generate the Notice to Obligor of Appeal Resolution (CS609).
5. If at any point in the process the obligor files an application or motion, the Family Division schedules the case for court. A copy of the application/motion must be given to DFD by the obligor so the funds will remain on hold.
6. The NOTE screen must be updated with relevant case activity by DFD and PCSE staff. 

F. PCSE Role

PCSE staff participates in three separate roles in the CSLN program:

1. If and when PCSE becomes aware of information that would exempt the case from CSLN, PCSE will update NJKiDS and promptly notify AEU via Action Note to File.
2. Upon request of DFD, provide information which may include, but is not limited to, audits and court orders not available on NJKiDS.
3. Upon request from a party to the case PCSE staff is responsible for providing basic information regarding the CSLN program. Once the levy has taken place, any inquiries from the obligor must be directed to the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center Call Center at 1-877-655-4371.

Inquiries from insurance companies regarding the remittance of levied funds must be directed to the dedicated line at the New Jersey Family Support Payment Center at 1-866-818-7749.

 NJCSI Handout Materials

For more information and guidance, please refer to the following document:

• Child Support Lien Network (CSLN)