Help locating non-paying parents

Child support offices and enforcement agencies employ various strategies and resources to locate non-paying parents who are not fulfilling their child support obligations. Here are some common methods used to locate non-paying parents:

1. Employment Records: Child support agencies may access employment records, including wage and income information, to identify where non-paying parents are employed. This information can help determine the parent’s ability to pay child support and facilitate income withholding (wage garnishment).
2. Tax Records: Tax records, including federal and state tax returns, can provide valuable information about a non-paying parent’s income, assets, and financial situation. Child support agencies may collaborate with tax authorities to obtain tax-related information and identify sources of income.
3. Social Security Number Tracing: Child support agencies use social security number tracing services to locate non-paying parents who may have changed addresses or identities. These services can help track down individuals by cross-referencing social security numbers with various databases and records.
4. Driver’s License Records: Non-paying parents who have active driver’s licenses may be located through state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) records. Child support agencies may work with state DMVs to access driver’s license records and identify current addresses and contact information.
5. Public Records Searches: Child support agencies conduct public records searches to locate non-paying parents through various databases, including property records, court records, voter registration records, and utility records. These searches can provide information about a parent’s residence, assets, and other relevant details.
6. Financial Institutions: Child support agencies may subpoena financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions, to obtain information about non-paying parents’ bank accounts, assets, and financial transactions. This information can help determine the parent’s financial resources and ability to pay child support.
7. Employment Verification Requests: Child support agencies may send employment verification requests to employers to confirm a non-paying parent’s current employment status, income, and payroll information. Employers are required to respond to these requests under state and federal law.
8. Social Media and Online Searches: Child support agencies may use social media and online searches to gather information about non-paying parents’ whereabouts, activities, and connections. Social media platforms, public records websites, and online directories can provide valuable leads for locating individuals.
9. Collaboration with Law Enforcement: Child support agencies may collaborate with law enforcement agencies to locate non-paying parents who are evading enforcement efforts or are subject to arrest warrants for non-payment of child support. Law enforcement agencies can assist in locating and apprehending individuals who are in violation of child support orders.
10. Interstate and International Cooperation: Child support agencies collaborate with other states and countries through interstate and international agreements to locate non-paying parents who have moved across state lines or abroad. These agreements facilitate the exchange of information and enforcement actions across jurisdictions.

Overall, locating non-paying parents requires a combination of investigative techniques, access to information sources, and collaboration with other agencies. Child support agencies use a variety of methods to locate non-paying parents and hold them accountable for their child support obligations, ultimately ensuring financial support for children and families in need.