What Is the Parent Locator Service?

When a parent is not making child support payments, the custodial parent may need to locate the other parent. After locating the noncustodial parent, child support services can take enforcement actions. A parent may move out of state or intentionally try to avoid responding to family court notices. There are resources to help find the missing parent who is in violation of child support orders.

Child support laws and enforcement of family court orders vary by state. This page provides general information about tracking down a parent for child support. Contact a local child support attorney for information about your local parent locator services.

What Is the Federal Parent Locator Service?

The Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) is a network of systems that locates noncustodial parents in child support cases. These parents may need to make payments that they have previously either denied, refused, or avoided. The federal government’s Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) oversees the FPLS.

The FPLS is a joint partnership between federal, state, and local child support agencies. Together, the agencies work to track down parents for child and spousal support. The FPLS works with other government organizations such as the:

• Federal Case Registry (FCR)
• Federal Offset Program (FOP)
• National Directory of New Hires (NDNH)
• Passport Denial Program
• Internal Revenue Service
• Multistate Financial Institution Data Match

The FPLS assists in locating parents who may be avoiding their court-ordered liabilities.

How Do Parent Locator Services Work?

The FPLS obtains and transmits information about the location of absent parents to enforce child support orders, determine child custody, or investigate parental kidnapping. The FPLS starts with automatic locating functions using the NDNH and FCR. The FPLS notifies state child support agencies when it has an information match, including:

• Hiring for a new job
• Claim unemployment insurance benefits
• Reports quarterly wage information

FPLS can also search federal agencies to locate noncustodial parents. Federal agencies include the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Federal Offset Program can collect money and distribute it to the state for payment to the custodial parent.

To find a parent who isn’t paying child support, you must fill out the mandatory paperwork. Forms are usually returned to the state-level child services bureau. Your state child support agency consults with you and forwards the paperwork to federal authorities. After locating the parent, the state child welfare agency can take enforcement action. The custodial parent can get an income withholding order to deduct child support payments from the other parent’s paycheck.

In all circumstances, authorized applicants conduct a search via state child support agencies or the FPLS. The parent locator services have access to a lot of confidential information. State agencies generally have strict privacy safeguards. Only authorized individuals get access. States must implement privacy policies to prevent the unauthorized use of the information. States have to annually certify privacy compliance under federal law.

State Parent Locator Services

The federal government has a comprehensive network for locating parents. However, most parents can start with their local parent locator services. If you are trying to enforce child support orders, you can work with your local child support program to locate the other parent. The state agency will generally start with gathering any contact information you have. Valuable information may include:

• Full name of the noncustodial parent and any living relatives
• Social security number and date of birth
• Last known address, telephone number, and e-mail address
• Former employer’s name
• Memberships related to professional, occupational, political, or recreational organizations or committees
• Any arrest records or military records

Are There Other Services for Finding Parents?

Some states have a delinquent parents website operated by the state department of health and human services. Delinquent parents have their names, photographs, and past-due child support obligations posted on a public website. People who know where these parents are can report them to state agencies. Talk to your attorney to find out if your state has a child support evader website.

Some parents use private investigators to find parents who owe back child support. Private investigators specialize in tracking down noncustodial parents in breach of a court order. However, private investigators can charge a lot for their services.

How a Private Attorney Can Help Find a Deadbeat Parent?

A child support attorney can explain any other ways to track down a missing noncustodial parent if the parent locator services don’t help. Your attorney can help find the other parent using other records not used by the federal agencies. An attorney can also take enforcement action to help you recover unpaid child support. Contact a child support lawyer for legal advice and help locating a deadbeat parent.