Child support is a fundamental pillar of ensuring the well-being of children and families. In this regard, Rhode Island has taken a significant step by amending Rhode Island General Laws § 27-57-1, known as the "Child Support Intercept Act," to include the interception of life insurance payments. The amended legislation was signed into law by the Governor on May 18, 2023, following its introduction earlier this year, and will be implemented starting January 1, 2024.

What the Amended Law Encompasses

Pursuant to this legislative amendment, every domestic insurer or insurance company authorized to issue life insurance or liability insurance policies, as well as workers' compensation insurers, is required to act when making payments exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) to claimants or beneficiaries. These payments can be related to personal injury or workers' compensation benefits, or life insurance policy benefits. The essential element introduced by this amendment is that life insurers must now review information provided by the Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support Services, to determine if the claimant owes past-due child support.

The legislation includes the following key components:

1. Obligation to Review: Insurers must review the provided information* thirty (30) days before making any payments exceeding $500 to claimants.
2. Response to Review: If the review* indicates that the claimant does not owe past-due support, the insurer can proceed with the payment according to the terms of the insurance contract.
3. Past-Due Child Support: If the review* confirms that the claimant owes past-due child support, the insurer is required to withhold the amount of past-due support from the payment. This withheld amount must be transferred to the family court to be credited toward the claimant's child support obligation.
4. Written Notices: The insurer is mandated to provide written notice to the claimant and their attorney, if applicable, while also notifying the Department of Human Services of the payment to the family court.
5. Judicial Review: The legislation allows claimants who disagree with actions taken under this section to seek judicial review within thirty (30) days of notice.

What This Means for Insurers

For insurance companies in Rhode Island, this amended legislation signifies a shift in how they process certain payments. Life insurers must now conduct timely reviews* of claimants to identify past-due child support obligations. In cases where such obligations are identified, insurers must withhold the corresponding amounts and transfer them to the family court, ensuring that child support obligations are prioritized. Compliance with this legislation is crucial, and insurers will need to adapt their payment processes accordingly.

*The “Review” referenced in the legislation refers to the information obtained through a search on the Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) Online Lookup website or by a direct data match with CSLN. To find out more, please email contact@childsupportliens.com.

The Vital Role of Insurers in Child Support

Insurance companies are essential in securing past-due child support for families and children. By cooperating with state child support agencies and providing necessary data for child support enforcement, insurers contribute to improving the financial stability of families who rely on these overdue payments. Insurers' compliance with such legislation underscores their corporate citizenship and social responsibility, making a tangible impact on the communities they serve.

CSLN: Your Resource for Legislative Compliance

The Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) recognizes the importance of legislation like this and the role insurers play in child support enforcement. CSLN has always been at the forefront of facilitating the insurance intercept process. It serves as a valuable resource for insurers, helping them understand the requirements of new legislation while providing outreach and educational material to simplify compliance.

If you are a Rhode Island insurer, especially a life insurer, and have questions or require guidance on how to navigate and comply with this amended legislation, CSLN stands ready to assist. Your cooperation is vital in ensuring that children and families receive the child support they are owed, and CSLN is here to support you every step of the way.

Together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of countless families by enforcing child support obligations through insurance intercept.

Sharon Santilli, Esquire, has made an indelible mark on the world of child support. Her illustrious career has been defined by unwavering dedication and a passion for improving the lives of families and children through the effective enforcement of child support obligations. As a retiree from the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Office of Child Support Services (OCSS), where she served as the IV-D Director and CSLN's Project Administrator until 2021. Sharon brings a wealth of experience and expertise as an Executive Consultant with Stellarware, who provides the technical and operations support for the CSLN consortium. 

Sharon's journey in the legal field began after graduating from Northern Illinois College of Law. She initially honed her legal skills at a personal injury firm in Chicago, Illinois, before returning to Rhode Island to embark on a career with the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS). Her commitment and competence were quickly recognized, leading to her appointment as Deputy Chief of Child Support Services in just two short years. In 1991, she assumed the role of Chief Legal Counsel, solidifying her status as a legal authority in the child support domain. In 2004, she was appointed Associate Director (IV-D Director) at DHS, a position she held until her well-deserved retirement in June 2021.

Sharon's influence extends far beyond Rhode Island. She is a national leader in the child support arena, having served as the President of the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) in 2008 and as the President of the National Council of Child Support Directors (NCCSD) in 2015. Her leadership and advocacy have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of child support enforcement in the United States.

CSLN has long admired Sharon Santilli's enthusiasm, dedication, and unwavering commitment to the cause of child support. Her legacy is one of tireless support and inspiration, catalyzing numerous incentives and innovations throughout her remarkable 30+ year career. Sharon's insights and experience make her a respected figure in the child support community, and her contributions to CSLN have been invaluable.

In this exclusive interview, we'll delve into some lesser-known CSLN facts, gaining Sharon’s perspective on child support and the pivotal role that CSLN has played in furthering its cause.

1.     With so many different state laws and regulations, how is CSLN able to accommodate each state?

Sharon: The CSLN process easily adapts to the unique child support laws, practices, and procedures of each state. Whether it involves identifying and tracking assets or issuing liens and income-withholding orders against delinquent obligors' assets, CSLN is versatile. It's a valuable tool for states that mandate insurance claim interception or for those where insurers willingly collaborate with child support agencies to share information. CSLN can seamlessly incorporate state-specific forms, notices, and other requirements. Moreover, every CSLN website is tailor-made to suit the needs and workflow of each individual state. This ensures a smooth and efficient experience for users across the board.

2.     What other asset-related data-matching services does CSLN offer to states?

Sharon: CSLN offers participating agencies a range of optional services to enhance the collection of past-due support. These services include but are not limited to life insurance intercept, lump sum payment intercept, real estate liens, financial institution data match (FIDM), location verification, and various other supplementary services, which can be implemented by states at any time in the process as needed. Agencies have the flexibility to choose these optional services when they execute the Interstate Agreement or at a later point during the agreement's term. This adaptability ensures that the tools and resources needed for efficient support collection can be tailored to specific needs and circumstances.

3.     How successful is lump sum intercept?

Sharon: Currently, five states have successfully implemented lump sum intercept, and they've employed different methods and processes to achieve this success. Some states implement the lump sum solution through our new hire employer services portal, others through CSLN. Note that lump sum can also be implemented through a state website or as a standalone site. Some states use Income Withholding Orders (IWOs) for interception, while others follow a specific lien process. The beauty of CSLN is its ability to adapt to both of these approaches, accommodating the needs of each state. It's worth noting that a state can choose to, but is not obligated to, enact specific legislation to facilitate the interception of lump sum payments. This interception is already encompassed within existing income withholding laws. Furthermore, the broad federal enforcement laws and regulations provide a sturdy framework for this process. This flexibility allows states to make effective use of this powerful tool without the burden of additional legislation. A data sheet* articulating the success CSLN has realized with lump sum intercepts can be accessed here. (*Note that the data does not yet reflect lump sum payment collections from New Jersey.)

4.     Why do insurance companies prefer to report to CSLN?

Sharon: Thanks to CSLN's strong collaboration with the insurance industry, we've gained valuable insights into the challenges insurers face due to varying state mandates. These mandates can create implementation difficulties since they vary from one state to another. To streamline the process, insurers often prefer that states integrate the CSLN approach when crafting new laws related to insurance claim interception. Over the past 24 years, CSLN has built a robust relationship with the insurance industry. This partnership is founded on trust, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to delivering essential child support to children and families. It's a testament to the effectiveness of collaboration in achieving a common goal.

5.     Why is CSLN such a “big deal” in the child support community?

Sharon: CSLN stands as the largest child support consortium in the nation, a testament to the power of partnership and the pioneering work of Stellarware Corporation in collaboration with the State of Rhode Island, CSLN’s host state. This groundbreaking entity has reshaped the landscape of child support by developing an innovative, modular solution that can easily and quickly be adopted by other states. Before CSLN, there was no streamlined method for insurance companies to report impending settlements to one central location electronically. For the few states that have their own state intercept process, insurance companies must accommodate each state's rules and regulations. CSLN has transformed this process, offering one centralized reporting option and a seamless process for insurers who prefer this method. Prior to CSLN, insurance settlements often remained undisclosed and, therefore, untapped assets unavailable to families. CSLN is continuously improving the process and adding a range of valuable optional enforcement services, such as lump sum, bank lien intercept, and real estate liens. It also offers a valuable locate tool. Thanks to CSLN's innovative offerings, billions of dollars have been collected to support families and children, making a significant impact in the world of child support enforcement.

For over two decades, the Child Support Lien Network (CSLN) has been steadfast in its mission to bolster child support collections, leaving a remarkable trail of success and positive impact. What began in 1999 as a partnership between the insurance industry and the State of Rhode Island to match delinquent child support obligations against workers' compensation and personal injury claims has evolved into a nationwide initiative. Currently, CSLN boasts a network that encompasses thirty (30) states and collaborates with over 2,200 insurance companies, and these numbers continue to increase due to vigorous outreach efforts.

One of CSLN's standout achievements is its continuous expansion into various lines of insurance, which now include life insurance products. These products can encompass annuities, disability insurance, policy surrenders, and payments to beneficiaries on life insurance policies. This diversification enables CSLN to cast a wider net, reaching even more obligors who owe past-due child support.



The amount of every CSLN collection varies from claim to claim - outlined below are just a few examples of child support collections from this year, each resulting from a single insurance payment.

For two decades now, the Child Support Lien Network (CSLN), hosted by the State of Rhode Island, has been at the forefront of a transformative journey in the world of child support. CSLN, which came into existence in 1999, has evolved into an indispensable consortium, providing states and insurance companies with a powerful tool to ensure that children and families receive the child support they deserve.

Back in 1999, CSLN started as an online lookup website, making it relatively rare for child support agencies to successfully collect payments from insurance settlements. However, as the State of Rhode Island pioneered a user-friendly and secure online database, designed for matching delinquent child support obligor files with assets, the CSLN consortium was born. This marked the beginning of a fruitful public/private partnership, offering a new frontier for child support collections.



Over the years, CSLN has achieved significant milestones that have propelled it into the powerhouse it is today. It's a journey that we're excited to revisit, highlighting how CSLN has transformed and adapted to the evolving needs of the child support industry.

"In 2017, the aggregate expected amount of child support for receipt was $30 billion. 62% of that amount was actually received, averaging $3,431 per custodial parent."

-U.S. Census Bureau (May 2020). Custodial Mothers and Fathers and Their Child Support: 2017