1312                                       LAWS OF MARYLAND                                  Ch. 496

PAYMENT HAD BEEN ORDERED AND ON A FINDING BY THE COURT
THAT ARREARAGES WITHIN THE 24-MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY
PRECEDING SUBMISSION OF THE PETITION EQUAL A SUM OF TWO
MONTHS PAYMENTS, THE COURT [[SHALL]] MAY ORDER A LIEN ON
THE EARNINGS OF THE DEFAULTING PARTY, DUE OR TO BE DUE,
IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO PAY THE SUPPORT ORDERED BY THE
COURT. THE COURT SHALL CAUSE A COPY OF THE ORDER TO BE
SERVED IMMEDIATELY ON THE EMPLOYER OF THE DEFAULTING
PARTY.

(2)    AS SOON AS AN EMPLOYER IS NOTIFIED OF A
LIEN, THE EMPLOYER IS REQUIRED TO DEDUCT THE AMOUNT OF
THE LIEN ON A REGULAR BASIS AND TO PAY ALL DEDUCTIONS
DIRECTLY TO THE RECIPIENT DESIGNATED BY THE COURT. THE
EMPLOYER KAY DEDUCT AN ADDITIONAL $1 FOR EACH PAYMENT
MADE UNDER THE ORDER.

(3)    A LIEN ON EARNINGS SHALL BE BINDING ON
EACH EXISTING AND FUTURE EMPLOYER OF THE DEFAULTING PARTY
ON WHOM A COPY OF THE ORDER IS SERVED AND, UNLESS THE
COURT ORDERS OTHERWISE, SHALL HAVE PRIORITY AS AGAINST
ANY ATTACHMENT, EXECUTION, OR ASSIGNMENT.

(4)    FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION,
ARREARAGES IN PAYMENT SHALL BE COMPUTED ON THE BASIS OF
THE PAYMENTS OWED AND UNPAID ON THE DATE THAT, PURSUANT
TO LAW, THE DEFAULTING PARTY HAS BEEN GIVEN NOTICE OF THE
APPLICATION FOR THE EARNINGS LIEN, AND SUBSEQUENT PAYMENT
OF THE ARREARAGES BY THE DEFAULTING PARTY DOES NOT
[[RELIEVE THE COURT OF ITS DUTY UNDER THIS SECTION TO
ORDER THE]] PROHIBIT THE COURT FORM ORDERING A LIEN ON
THE EARINGS.

(C)    (1) EACH PERSON FOR WHOM SUPPORT HAS BEEN
ORDERED SHALL GIVE NOTICE OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS,
WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME AFTER THE CHANGE AND BY RETURN
RECEIPT MAIL, TO THE COURT AND THE EMPLOYER OF THE
DEFAULTING PARTY AND, IF THE COURT ORDERED PAYMENTS TO BE
MADE TO A STATE OR COUNTY OFFICER, TO THE OFFICER.

(2) AN EMPLOYER OR OFFICER WHO IS UNABLE TO
DELIVER PAYMENTS UNDER THE LIEN FOR A THREE-MONTH PERIOD
BECAUSE THE PERSON FOR WHOM SUPPORT HAS BEEN ORDERED
FAILED TO GIVE THE REQUIRED NOTICE OF A CHANGE OF ADDRESS
MAY NOT MAKE FURTHER PAYMENTS UNDER THE LIEN AND SHALL
RETURN ALL UNDELIVERABLE PAYMENTS TO THE EMPLOYEE.

(D)    ON PETITION OF THE DEFAULTING PARTY, THE COURT
SHALL TERMINATE A LIEN ORDERED UNDER THIS SECTION IF:

(1)    THERE HAVE BEEN [[18]] 12 CONTINUOUS AND
UNINTERRUPTED MONTHS OF FULL PAYMENT UNDER THE LIEN; OR

(2)    THE EMPLOYER OR OFFICER HAS BEEN UNABLE
TO DELIVER PAYMENTS UNDER THE LIEN FOR A THREE-MONTH
PERIOD BECAUSE THE PERSON FOR WHOM SUPPORT HAS BEEN
ORDERED FAILED TO GIVE THE REQUIRED NOTICE OF A CHANGE OF
ADDRESS.