CS APPENDIX E-P

Federal Parent Locator Service

01/28/03 Revised 12/30/25 Training Completed 01/13/26 Last Reviewed 02/02/26

42 U.S. Code 653, 656 and 663

REQUESTS FOR INFORMATION FROM THE FEDERAL PARENT LOCATOR SERVICE (FPLS)

Requests for Information for Child Support Purposes:
Who May Request	Why	Information Available
Agent attorney of a State with authority/duty under the state IV-D plan approved by OCSE to collect child support. (42 U.S. Code §653(c)(1)) Court with authority to issue an order for child support or to serve as the initiating court in an action to seek a child support order, or any agent of such a court. (42 U.S. Code §653(c)(2)) Resident parent, legal guardian, attorney or agent of a child not receiving title IV-A benefits. (42 U.S. Code §653(c)(3))	Establish parentage, establish the amount of, modify or enforce a support obligation. (42 U.S. Code §653(a)(2)	Information (including SSN, most recent address, and the name, address and employer identification number of the individual’s employer) on, or facilitating the discovery of, the location of any individual: · Who is under an obligation to pay child support, · Against whom a child support obligation is sought, · To whom a child support obligation is owed, or · Who has or may have parental rights with respect to a child (42 U.S.C §653(a)(2)). Information on the type, status, location and amount of assets, or debts owed by or to the individual (Asset information is currently derived from IRS and is available only to IV-D agency.) (42 U.S. Code § 656(a)(2)).
Requests for Information for Title IV-B & Title IV-E Purposes:
Who May Request	Why	Information Available
State agency administering a program under title IV-B (Child Welfare Services) or title IV-E (Foster Care or Adoption services) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S. Code §653(c)(4))	Locate an individual who has or may have parental rights with respect to a child (42 U.S. Code §653(a)(2)(A)(iv))	For noncustodial parent, putative father, custodial parent and child – same as above. For relatives of a child involved in a IV-B or IV-E case – Person’s name, SSN, address, employer’s name, address and Employer Identification Number.
Requests for Information for Child Custody, Visitation & Parental Kidnapping Cases:
Who May Request	Why	Information Available
Agent/attorney of a state with authority/duty under state law to enforce a child custody or visitation determination (42 U.S. Code §663(d)(2)(A)). The state must have a written agreement with the Secretary of DHHS.	Make or enforce a child custody or visitation determination. (42 U.S. Code §663(a)(2))	Most recent address and place of employment of any parent or child. (42 U.S. Code §663(c))
Court with jurisdiction to make or enforce child custody or visitation determination, or an agent of such court. (42 U.S. Code §663(d)(2)(B))	Make or enforce a child custody or visitation determination. (42 U.S. Code §663(a)(2))	Most recent address and place of employment of any parent or child (42 U.S. Code §663(c))
Agent/attorney of the U.S. or of a state with authority/duty to investigate, enforce or prosecute the unlawful taking or restraint of a child. (42 U.S. Code §663(d)(2)(C))	Enforce any federal or state law regarding unlawful taking or restraint of a child. (42 U.S. Code §663(a)(1))	Most recent address and place of employment of any parent or child. (42 U.S. Code §663(c))
U.S. Central Authority (under the Hague convention on international child abduction). (42 U.S. Code §663(e))	Locate any parent/child on behalf of an applicant to Central Authority, in an international child abduction case. (42 U.S. Code §663(e))	Most recent address and place of employment of any parent or child. (42 U.S. Code §663(c))
U.S. Attorney General (Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention). (42 U.S. Code §663(f))	Enforce any state/federal law with respect to unlawful taking or restraint of child, or make or enforce a child custody or visitation determination. (42 U.S. Code §663(f))	Most recent address and place of employment of any parent or child. (42 U.S. Code §663(c))

Requests for Information for Other Purposes:
Who May Request	Why	Information Available
Secretary of the Treasury (42 U.S. Code §653(h)(3) and (i)(3))	Administration of the specified federal tax laws. (42 U.S. Code §653(h)(3) and (i)(3))	Federal Case Registry data or National Directory of New Hires data, depending on purpose for which data is sought 42 U.S. Code (§653(h)(3) and (i)(3))
Social Security Administration (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(1))	Verification of information supplied to the Secretary of DHHS. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(1))	The name, Social Security number and birth date of such individuals and employer identification number. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(1))
Social Security Administration (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(4))	Administration of the Social Security programs. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(4))	NDNH data. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(4))
Secretary of Education (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(6))	For the collection of the debts owed on defaulted student loans, or overpayment of grants, made under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, after removal of personal identifiers. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(6)(D)(i) and (ii))	Matches to compare NDNH information and information on individuals who are borrowers of loans that are in default or who have an obligation to refund an overpayment on a grant under title IV. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(6)(C)(i),(D))
Researchers (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(5))	Research purposes found by the Secretary of DHHS to be likely to contribute to achieving purposes of the titles IV-A/IV-D	Data in each component of the FPLS for research purposes found likely to contribute to achieving the purposes of titles IV-A or IV-D but without personal identifiers. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(3))
State IV-A agencies (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(3))	Administration of the title IV-A program (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(3))	Compare the information in each component of the FPLS determined to be effective in assisting states in their operation of the title IV-A program. (42 U.S. Code §653(j)(3))