Actions against this state.

If the department has levied upon property, any person, other than the obligor who is liable to pay the support out of which the levy arose, who claims an interest in or lien on that property and claims that that property was wrongfully levied upon may bring a civil action against the state in the circuit court for Dane County. If the county child support agency has levied upon property pursuant to delegated authority under sub. (17), any person, other than the obligor who is liable to pay the support out of which the levy arose, who claims an interest in or lien on that property and claims that that property was wrongfully levied upon may bring a civil action against the county child support agency in the circuit court for the county where the court order for the payment of support, upon which the seizure is based, was first entered or last modified. That action may be brought whether or not that property has been surrendered to the department or the county child support agency. The court may grant only the relief under par. (b). No other action to question the validity of or restrain or enjoin a levy by the department or a county child support agency may be maintained.

In an action under par. (a), prior to the sale of the property, if the court determines that property has been improperly levied upon, the court may enjoin the enforcement of the levy and order the return of the property, or may grant a judgment for the amount of money obtained by levy. The court may also order relief necessary to protect the interests of owners of the property, other than the obligor, including, when appropriate, partition of the property. After the sale of the property, if the court determines that the property has been wrongfully levied upon, it may grant a judgment for the amount of money obtained by levy.

For purposes of an adjudication under this subsection, there is a rebuttable presumption that the support obligation upon which the lien is based is valid.