PART 956—ADMINISTRATIVE WAGE GARNISHMENT Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3720D; 39 U.S.C. 204, 401, 2601; 31 CFR 285.11. Source: 90 FR 46481, Sept. 29, 2025, unless otherwise noted. § 956.1 (Rule 1) Authority for this part. This part is issued by the Judicial Officer under authority delegated by the Postmaster General. § 956.2 (Rule 2) Scope of this part. (a) This part applies to a debtor's petition for hearing provided by 31 U.S.C. 3720D, 31 CFR 285.11, and in accordance with the regulations contained in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual, sections 470 and 480. (b) Under this part, a debtor may challenge: (1) The existence of a delinquent nontax debt owed to the Postal Service; or (2) The amount of a delinquent nontax debt owed to the Postal Service. (c) This part also applies to a hearing under 31 U.S.C. 3720D and 31 CFR 285.11 when a Hearing Official in the Judicial Officer Department is designated as the Hearing Official for a creditor Federal agency other than the Postal Service under an agreement between the Postal Service and that agency. In those cases, all references to Postal Service in this part will be construed to refer to the relevant creditor Federal agency. § 956.3 (Rule 3) Definitions. As used in this part: (a) Agency (b) Debt claim (c) Debtor (d) Delinquent nontax debt (e) Garnishment (f) General Counsel (g) Hearing Official (h) Judicial Officer (i) Notice of Intent to Initiate Administrative Wage Garnishment Proceedings (j) Recorder https://about.usps.com/who/judicial/. (k) Withholding order § 956.4 (Rule 4) Petition for a hearing. A debtor may petition for a non-hardship hearing to challenge the existence or the amount of a delinquent nontax debt owed to the Postal Service, in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3720D and 31 CFR 285.11(b). After receiving the debtor's petition for hearing, the agency will promptly transmit the written request and any documents received from the debtor to the Postal Service for further processing and decision by the Judicial Officer Department. § 956.5 (Rule 5) Scope of hearing; evidentiary standard. (a) A hearing under this part will be conducted by the Hearing Official to determine: (1) The existence of the debt; and (2) The amount of the debt. (b) The Postal Service must prove its case against a debtor by a preponderance of the evidence. § 956.6 (Rule 6) Notice of Docketing. (a) Within a reasonable time after receiving the debtor's petition for hearing from the agency, the Recorder will issue a Notice of Docketing to the debtor and the General Counsel. The Recorder will maintain a record of Administrative Wage Garnishment proceedings and will assign a docket number to each case. (b) The debtor and the Postal Service's representative should refer to the docket number on any further filings. § 956.7 (Rule 7) Filing and serving documents; computation of time; representation of parties. (a) Filing. https://usps-judicialoffice.journaltech.com. (1) Documents submitted using the electronic filing system are considered filed as of the date and time (Eastern Time) reflected in the system. (2) Documents mailed to the Recorder are considered filed on the date mailed as evidenced by a United States Postal Service postmark. (3) Filings by any other means are considered filed upon receipt by the Recorder of a complete copy of the filing during normal business hours. Normal business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. (b) Service. (c) Time computation. (1) Requests for time extensions must be made in writing before the submission is due, state the reason for the extension request, represent that the moving party has contacted the opposing party about the request, or made reasonable efforts to do so, and indicate whether the opposing party consents to the extension. (2) Requests for time extensions submitted after the date on which the submission was due must explain why the moving party could not request an extension before the deadline. (d) Representation of parties. § 956.8 (Rule 8) Answer to petition. Within 15 days from the date of receiving the Notice of Docketing, the Postal Service's representative must file an answer to the petition and attach all available relevant records and documents in support of the Postal Service's debt claim. The answer must provide a clear and thorough description of the basis for the Postal Service's determination of the alleged debt and its calculation of the alleged debt amount. § 956.9 (Rule 9) Hearing Official authority and responsibilities. The Hearing Official's authority includes, but is not limited to, the following: (a) Ruling on all motions or requests by the parties. (b) Issuing notices, orders, or memoranda to the parties about the hearing proceedings. (c) Conducting telephone conferences with the parties to expedite the proceedings. The Hearing Official will issue a Memorandum of Telephone Conference, which will serve as the official record of that conference. (d) Determining whether a case will be decided after an oral hearing or on the written record. If an oral hearing is held, the Hearing Official will set the place, date, and time of the hearing. (e) Administering oaths or affirmations to witnesses. (f) Conducting the hearing in a manner to maintain discipline and decorum while assuring that relevant, reliable, and probative evidence is elicited on the issues in dispute, but irrelevant, immaterial, or repetitious evidence is excluded. As necessary, examining witnesses to ensure that a satisfactory record is developed. (g) Establishing the record in the case. The Hearing Official will determine the weight attached to any evidence. Except as the Hearing Official may otherwise order, no proof will be received in evidence after completion of an oral hearing or, in cases submitted on the written record, after notification by the Hearing Official that the record is closed. The Hearing Official may require either party, with appropriate notice to the other party, to submit additional evidence on any relevant matter. (h) Granting reasonable time extensions or other relief for good cause shown. (i) Issuing the final decision. After the record closes, the Hearing Official will issue a written decision as soon as practicable. The written decision will include: (1) Findings of fact; (2) Conclusions of law; and (3) The amount and validity of the alleged debt. (j) Posting the decision in the electronic filing system. If a party does not have access to the electronic filing system, the Recorder will mail that party a copy of the decision. § 956.10 (Rule 10) Opportunity for oral hearing. (a) An oral hearing will be conducted at the Hearing Official's discretion. An oral hearing may be conducted in-person, by telephone, by video conference, or other appropriate means as directed by the Hearing Official. (b) When the Hearing Official determines that an oral hearing will not be conducted, the decision will be based solely on the written submissions. (c) The Hearing Official will arrange for the recording and transcription of an oral hearing, which will serve as the official record of the hearing. (d) The hearing may proceed if a party fails, without excuse, to appear. § 956.11 (Rule 11) Effect of Hearing Official's decision. Except for any issues reserved for the Department of the Treasury, the Hearing Official's decision shall be the final agency action for the purposes of judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C 701 et. seq. § 956.12 (Rule 12) Consequences for failure to comply with this part. If the Hearing Official determines that a debtor has abandoned the right to a hearing, files their petition late without good cause, or files a withdrawal of the petition, administrative wage garnishment may be initiated. If the Hearing Official determines that the Postal Service fails to file the answer, files the answer late without good cause, or files a withdrawal of the debt determination, administrative wage garnishment may not be initiated. If either party fails to comply with this part or the Hearing Official's orders, the Hearing Official may take reasonable and proper action under the circumstances, including dismissing or granting the petition as appropriate. § 956.13 (Rule 13) Ex parte communications. Ex parte communications are not allowed between a party and the Hearing Official or the Hearing Official's staff. (a) Ex parte communication (b) A memorandum of any communication between the Hearing Official and a party will be transmitted to both parties.