Locating Non-custodial Parents

What is Location?

The whereabouts of the non-custodial parent must be known to establish paternity or enforce a child support order.

All applications for services are opened as cases and entered in the child support computer system within twenty days of receipt by the child support office. If the whereabouts of the non-custodial parent are not known, the computer system automatically begins to try to locate the non-custodial parent through interface programs with other state systems, such as the departments of Labor and Employment and Motor Vehicles, Workers' Compensation, public assistance agencies, and the State new hire directory. The system will also search for current or past employers, the local telephone company, the United States Postal Service, financial references, unions, fraternal organizations, credit reporting agencies, parole and probation records, and police records. As soon as the system has a verified address or employer, a caseworker is notified and court action is initiated. If location is unsuccessful, a federal system and a network system involving other states is used.

Locating the non-custodial parent can be a lengthy process if the non-custodial parent is not employed. We try to locate the parent through his or her social security number and date of birth. Our office also uses credit bureaus and the Internet to search for non-custodial parents. Typically, custodial parents have information that is helpful for locating non-custodial parents. Custodial parents should work with their caseworker to help locate the non-custodial parent.

Information Required

To help the child support office locate an absent parent, provide the following information (if known) to your caseworker:

• The absent parent's social security number. You may be able to find this by reviewing old pay stubs, income tax returns, loan applications, checking or savings accounts, health insurance records, or military records.
• The absent parent's address
• The absent parent's date of birth
• The absent parent's employer's name and phone number
• A picture or physical description of the absent parent
• Names of friends and relatives of the non-custodial parent and organizations to which he/she may belong

Estimated Timeframe

The amount of time it takes to locate an individual varies according to each case. The more information you are able to provide concerning the absent parent's whereabouts, the faster Child Support Services of Colorado will be able to locate the non-custodial parent.

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