Legal Definitions - FPLS

The Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) is a national system operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary purpose is to assist state and local child support agencies, as well as courts and certain other authorized entities, in locating parents or non-parent caretakers for various legal purposes. These purposes often include establishing paternity, enforcing child support orders, or resolving cases of parental kidnapping. The FPLS achieves this by accessing a wide range of federal and state databases, such as those related to employment, social security, and motor vehicle registration, to find current addresses, employers, and other relevant information.

• Example: Sarah has a court order for child support from her ex-husband, Mark, but he recently moved out of state and stopped making payments. The state child support enforcement agency has exhausted its local resources trying to find him. To continue enforcing the order, the agency submits a request to the FPLS to search for Mark's new address and employer information across federal and state databases.

  Explanation: This illustrates the FPLS's role in assisting state agencies with child support enforcement. By utilizing the FPLS, the state agency can access a broader range of information sources to locate a non-custodial parent who has moved, thereby helping to ensure the child receives the financial support they are legally entitled to.

• Example: After a contentious divorce, David's ex-wife took their daughter and disappeared, violating a custody order. Local law enforcement has been unable to locate them. David's attorney advises him that the FPLS can be a valuable tool in such cases. An authorized agency, like a state prosecutor's office or a court, can submit a request to the FPLS to help locate the mother and child, especially if they have crossed state lines.

  Explanation: This example demonstrates the FPLS's application beyond just financial support, extending to cases of parental kidnapping. The service's ability to access national databases makes it crucial for locating individuals who may be intentionally evading detection, thereby aiding in the safe return of a child.

• Example: A state social services agency is working with Maria, a new mother, to establish legal paternity for her child. The alleged father has been difficult to contact and has moved several times. To properly serve him with legal documents for a paternity hearing, the agency uses the FPLS to find his most current address and employment details, ensuring he receives official notice of the proceedings.

  Explanation: Here, the FPLS is used to facilitate the legal process of establishing paternity. By locating the alleged father, the service helps ensure that all parties involved in a legal case can be properly notified and participate, which is a fundamental aspect of due process and establishing legal parentage.