Custodial Parent Locate

DCSS-POL-02-3 v.2

 

  1. OVERVIEW
  1. The purpose of this policy is to provide staff and members of the public a working knowledge of locate actions when the custodial parent's (CP) location is unknown.
  1. APPLICABILITY
  1. This policy applies to all Arizona IV-D program staff performing title IV-D services.
  1. POLICY
  1. The Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), Arizona Parent Locator Service (APLS) shall obtain information to locate a person who is owed a child support obligation in a title IV-D child support case.
  1. CRITERIA
  1. The DCSS shall obtain locate information from resources provided in the Acceptable Locate Resource Policy for the purposes of locating a party or their assets if they are owed a child support obligation.
  2. The DCSS shall refer to the CP Locate Checklist to ensure all available resources are reviewed.
  3. The DCSS shall document locate attempts on ATLAS.
  4. The DCSS shall ensure all locate procedures are exhausted and locate attempts have been unsuccessful for 120 days prior to refunding any monies or closing the case.

If all criteria are not met, attempts to locate the CP are not considered exhausted.

 

Any staff providing Title IV-D services who knowingly requests or obtains information for reasons other than locating the party owed a child support obligation is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

  1. PROCEDURE
  1. This policy is supported by staff procedures, which identify how action related to this policy will be conducted, including responsibilities, time frames, and required actions.
  1. AUTHORITY
Federal Authority

466 U.S.C. § 666(c)(D)

Requirement of statutorily prescribed procedures to improve effectiveness of child support enforcement
45 C.F.R. § 302.35(a)(1) State parent locator service
State Authority

A.R.S. § 25-320(I)

Child support; factors; methods of payment; additional enforcement provisions; definitions
A.R.S. § 25-503(O)

Order for support; methods of payment; modification; termination; statute of limitations; judgment on arrearages; notice; security

A.R.S. § 25-513

Employer cooperation; violation; classification
A.R.S. § 41-1954(I)(L) Powers and duties
A.R.S. § 46-291(D)(E)(F) Administration and notice; expenditure limitation; locating deserting parents and assets; violation; classification
Rule 40, Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure Service of Summons in Title IV-D Cases.

Return to beginning of the Custodial Parent Locate Policy

Policy Revision Date: 2/9/2023
Policy Review Date: 12/20/2022

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