40-5-411. Immediate income withholding. (1) Except as provided in subsection (4), in the case of a child support order, whether temporary or final, that is issued by a court or administrative authority of this state after January 1, 1990, the income of the obligor is subject to immediate withholding under this part regardless of whether support payments are in arrears.
     (2) After October 1, 1991, when a support order of another state is registered in Montana under the provisions of 40-5-184 or other applicable law, the support obligation is subject to immediate income withholding under this section.
     (3) The department may direct the payor of income to the obligor to commence the withholding of the obligor's income on:
     (a) the effective date of the support order or the date of registration of the support order; or
     (b) the date, if any, that the department becomes authorized by law to provide child support enforcement services.
     (4) An obligor's income is not subject to immediate withholding if the court or administrative authority that issued or modified the support order finds:
     (a) that there is good cause not to require immediate withholding; or
     (b) that there is an alternative arrangement between the parties for the payment of support that provides sufficient security to ensure compliance with the arrangement.
     (5) For the purposes of subsection (4), any finding of good cause not to require immediate income withholding must be based on at least:
     (a) a written determination and explanation by the court or administrative authority as to why implementation of immediate income withholding would not be in the best interests of the child; and
     (b) proof of timely payment of previously ordered support in cases involving the modification of support orders.
     (6) Immediate withholding under this section terminates only:
     (a) upon the conditions provided in 40-5-417; or
     (b) at the request of the obligor if:
     (i) withholding has not been previously terminated and subsequently initiated under 40-5-412 because of a delinquency; and
     (ii) the obligor meets one of the exemptions under subsection (4).

     History: En. Sec. 4, Ch. 571, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 702, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 635, L. 1991.