7.1 Introduction

Federal Authority:


Social Security Act

§453 - Federal parent locator services

§453(A) - State Directory of New Hires

§458(8), (17) and (28) - State plan for child and spousal support

§463 - Use of Federal Parent Locator Service in connection with the enforcement or   determination of child custody and in cases of  parental kidnapping.


Code of Federal Regulations

45 CFR 302.35  - State parent locator service

45 CFR 303.3 -  Location of noncustodial parents

45 CFR 303.7 - Provision of services in intergovernmental IV-D cases

State Authority:

Wyo. Stat. 20-6-104 - Child support enforcement generally

Wyo. Stat. 20-6-106  - Powers and duties of department regarding collection of support

Wyo . Stat. 20-6-108 - State parent locator services


Wyoming Child Support Enforcement Rules

Chapter 4 - General Services

Chapter 12 - State Registries

Policy Number:  7.1

Effective Date: October 1, 2010

Chapter

This chapter contains the following sections:

Overview

The Wyoming child support enforcement program shall have a “good” address for the custodial parent and alleged father or non-custodial parent in order to:

Note:  Service of process requires a physical address.

Appendix 7.C - FPLS and WY SPLS Timeframes  provides details surrounding automated POSSE locate sources, submittal requirements and timeframes, and information provided by each source.

Federal Guidelines and Timeframes

In order to ensure the best possible service to the customers within the Wyoming CSP, the federal OCSS established certain minimum timeframes by which actions within the child support program should take place.  Below are the federal guidelines and timeframes for this chapter.

Locate

Within 75 calendar days of determining that an alleged father or non-custodial parent shall be located, the Wyoming CSE Program will access all appropriate location sources, including Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS), in order to take the next appropriate action in the case.  (45 CFR 303.3(b)(3))

On a quarterly basis and if adequate identifying information is available, the Wyoming CSP will access locate sources which may be limited to automated sources but shall include Wyoming employment files to attempt to locate the alleged father or non-custodial parent’s physical address, employment, or assets.  (45 CFR 303.3(b)(5))

State Parent Locator Service

45 CFR 302.35 authorizes the establishment of a State Parent Locator Service (SPLS).  The Wyoming SPLS accesses appropriate locate sources in Wyoming such as:

In addition to the Wyoming locate sources, the SPLS also requests locate information from the FPLS for purposes of child support enforcement or authorized requests from persons in connection with a parental kidnapping or child custody/visitation case.  

Intergovernmental 

Central Registry – When Wyoming Receives a Request for Locate Services from Another State:

Within 10 working days of receipt of an intergovernmental IV-D case, the Wyoming Central Registry will forward the case to the appropriate agency for processing.  (45 CFR 303.7(b)(2)(ii))

Initiating – When Wyoming is the Initiating State:


Responding – When Wyoming is the Responding State:

Closure

If an alleged father or non-custodial parent cannot be located, the case may be closed if it meets all of the requirements outlined in the federal regulations (45 CFR 303.11).  The possible case closures based upon the locate function are:

See Chapter 12 Closure for more details.

When Locate Is Necessary

Locate is necessary when

Successful Locate

Locate is successful when a new mailing or residential address or current employment information is discovered for the alleged father or non-custodial parent.  Once the address or employer is verified, POSSE is updated appropriately and the case worker may take the next appropriate action in the case.

Note:  If the initial address is provided by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the address shall be verified by another source.  See Appendix 7.C -  Safeguarding Child Support Information Guidelines.

Unsuccessful Locate

Upon receipt of new information for a person “in locate”, POSSE will immediately access state and federal databases to verify an address or identify a possible address.  If previous locate attempts have been unsuccessful, location attempts will be made on a quarterly basis.  POSSE automatically makes these attempts.


Cross Reference

Appendix 7.C – FPLS and WY SPLS Timeframes

Version Number:  2 

Last Revised Date:  July 1, 2014

Last Reviewed:  February 14, 2023