19-20-306. Execution or withholding for support obligation. - Montana Statutes

     19-20-306. Execution or withholding for support obligation. (1) Benefits in the retirement system are subject to execution and income withholding for the payment of a participant's support obligation.
     (2) For purposes of this section:
     (a) "Execution" means a warrant for distraint issued or a writ of execution obtained by the department of public health and human services when providing support enforcement services under Title IV-D of the Social Security Act.
     (b) "Income withholding" means an income-withholding order issued under the provisions of Title 40, chapter 5, part 3 or 4, or an income-withholding order issued in another state as provided in 40-5-157.
     (c) "Participant" means a member or an actual or potential beneficiary, survivor, or contingent annuitant of a retirement system designated pursuant to this chapter.
     (d) "Support obligation" has the meaning provided in 40-5-403 for support order.
     (3) The execution or income-withholding order may not require:
     (a) a type or form of benefit, option, or payment not available to the affected participant under the retirement system; or
     (b) an amount or duration of payment greater than that available to a participant under the retirement system.
     (4) The execution or income-withholding order may only provide for payment as follows:
     (a) Service retirement benefit payments or withdrawals of member contributions may be apportioned by directing payment of a percentage of the amount payable or payment of a fixed amount of no more than the amount payable to the participant.
     (b) The maximum amount of disability or survivorship benefits that may be apportioned and paid under this section is the monthly benefit amount that would have been payable on the date of termination of service if the member had retired without disability or death.
     (c) Retirement benefit adjustments for which a participant is eligible after retirement may be apportioned only if existing benefit payments are apportioned. The adjustments must be apportioned in the same ratio as existing benefit payments.
     (d) Payments must be limited to the life of the appropriate participant. The duration of payments under this section may be further limited only to a specified maximum time or the life of a specified participant. Payments may also be limited to a specific amount per month if the number of payments is specified.

     History: En. Sec. 15, Ch. 552, L. 1997.