Flanigin v. State, Department of Revenue, Child Support Enforcement Division

OPINION

MATTHEWS, Justice.

The Child Support Enforcement Division (CSED) is authorized to administratively establish child support orders. CSED initiates an administrative case seeking such an order through service of a “Notice and Finding of Financial Responsibility” (NFFR) upon a putative obligor parent. The question in this case is whether CSED has the general authority to order the payment of support ar-rearages accruing prior to service of an NFFR. Despite a CSED policy interpretation to the contrary, we answer “yes,” based on the clear language of the authorizing statutes.

I. FACTS AND…