Child Support Enforcement LOCATE

STATE PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE (SPLS)

GENERAL INFORMATION

This topic contains information on the following subjects:

1. An overview of the SPLS;

2. SPLS access to the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS);

3. The type of information that is required by SPLS;

4. How SPLS processes information;

5. Services for parental kidnapping/child custody cases.



STATE PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE (SPLS) OVERVIEW

Once an NCP has been in Locate for sixty (60) days, ACTS notifies the responsible SPLS worker, so that worker can check Locate sources that are not readily available to the local CSE caseworker (such as credit bureaus or the IRS 1099 Project.) Local caseworkers can also contact SPLS workers when they require Locate or asset resource information for other NCPs.

If not enough information is available for the SPLS worker to perform Locate activities for an NCP, the SPLS worker advises the responsible local caseworker(s) that SPLS could not perform any further Locate activities for the NCP in their case(s).



ACCESS TO FPLS

SPLS has access to the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), which is located in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). SPLS can accept requests from the following sources to use FPLS for the location of NCPs:

1. Any state or local agency or official seeking to collect child and spousal support, or medical support obligations, under the State Plan;

2. A court that has authority to issue an order against an NCP for the support and maintenance of a child, OR any agency of such court;

3. The resident parent, legal guardian, attorney, or agent of a child who is not receiving Public Assistance; or

4. Persons authorized to use FPLS in parental kidnapping and child custody cases (see "Services for Parental Kidnapping/Child Custody Cases", which appears below.)

NOTE: The access fee charged by FPLS in NPA cases is paid by the state and is not charged to the client.

If the local CSE agency receives a request to utilize FPLS by a Non-IV-D entity (such as those listed above), CSE should refer the request to the SPLS supervisor and note that the NCP’s SSN is required by the FPLS in order to access its sources. (This DOES NOT include requests for Non-TANF Locate Only Services.)



INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SPLS

SPLS cannot research information for any NCPs that do not have at least one of the following data elements in addition to their name and race:

• Date of birth;
• Age;
• Social Security Number; or
• Last known address.

PROCESSING INFORMATION RECEIVED BY SPLS

SPLS workers enter any useful information that they find on the appropriate screens in ACTS and notify the responsible CSE caseworker of the new information.

If caseworkers have already made a referral to SPLS and later obtain additional information that might help in the search, they should advise the appropriate SPLS worker of the new information. Also, if the NCP is found by the caseworker or through an automated interface after a referral is made to SPLS, the responsible caseworker should advise the SPLS worker of that fact.



SERVICES FOR PARENTAL KIDNAPPING/CHILD CUSTODY CASES

G.S. 110-139.1(a) provides that requests for location assistance in parental kidnapping and child custody cases shall be accepted by the State Parent Locator Service (SPLS) for referral to the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS). Judges, Clerks of Superior Court, District Attorneys, or United States Attorneys can make requests for location assistance when a request is made to locate a parent or child for the purpose of enforcing state or federal law with respect to:

1. The unlawful taking or restraint of a child;

2. Making or enforcing a child custody determination, including visitation orders;

3. Establishing paternity; or

4. Establishing, setting (or modifying) the amount of, or enforcing child support obligations.

Services cannot be provided in cases involving international child abduction.

Requests to locate parents for any other purpose cannot be accepted. The Department shall not disclose any information from or through the parent locator service if there is reasonable evidence of domestic violence or child abuse and the disclosure of the information could be harmful to the custodial parent or child.

When a request is made by an authorized individual, a Request For Access To The Federal Parent Locator Service form is required. It must be completed by the authorized individual only and forwarded to the SPLS Unit at the Central CSE Office. The form can be obtained from the local Clerk of Court.

Upon receipt of the request, SPLS transmits identifying information about the parent to the FPLS. When all responses are received from sources accessed by FPLS, the information obtained is forwarded to the requesting individual without verification of the information. As with other referrals to FPLS, no fee is collected from the requesting individual.