How To Find Out Where Someone Works for Child Support Legally

author1
Jayson Baxter
October 25, 2022
A child in a yellow shirt and blue shorts stands beside his mother, who, with a question mark above her head, wearing a red t-shirt and blue jeans, is pondering how to locate the workplace of someone for child support, staring at a grocery store employee in a yellow vest whom she suspects might be the non-custodial parent.

Those wondering how to discover where someone works for child support legally aren’t alone because approximately ¼ of all children under the age of 18 live in single-parent households with nearly 30% who didn’t receive any child support payments at all. 1, 2

In some cases, the custodial parent, which is the person that has the child with them the majority or all of the time, may not even know where the other parent is located or where the other parent works.

Luckily, there’s multiple ways to the absent parent such as through public records databases, the free search form above, and there’s even government programs that help to find them too.

How To Find Out Where Someone Works When They Owe Child Support

Finding out where someone works for child support starts with looking at local, state, and federal agencies. Some of these databases are searchable by the general public, others are accessible only by child support enforcement courts and agencies to determine where someone is working. Understanding how the system works can help find out where your ex works to start the process of receiving child support.

Federal Parent Locator Service Is How To Discover Where Someone Works for Child Support

The United States Department of Health and Human Services has oversight of the Federal Parent Locator Service. This service is used by state child support enforcement agencies to locate a parent who is ordered to pay child support. This is how to find out where someone works on the federal level.

A screenshot of the FPLS or federal parent locator service showing that they help to find non-custodial parents, even across state lines.

The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement provides assistance to 54 state and territory child support agencies to help ensure families who are due child support are receiving the payments as ordered with the Federal Parent Locator Service (FPLS) being central to the process. The FPLS includes:

  • Oversight and maintenance of the National Directory of New Hires (NDNH).
  • Oversight of the Federal Case Registry (FCR) database which lists all the active child support orders in the country.
  • Enforcement of the Federal Offset Program (FOP) which helps collect back child support. Back child support is money that was ordered to be paid but was not. This is the program that will intercept a tax return for the parent ordered to pay when payment has not been made.
  • Enforcement of the Federal Administrative Offset Program which intercepts other federal payments such as grants or disbursements from federal programs.
  • Cooperative program with the United States Department of State for the denial of passports to parents owing more than $2500 in child support. This program is known as the Passport Denial Program (PDP).
  • Administration of the Multistate Financial Institution Data Match (MFIDM) which allows the program to access financial data allowing them to find assets that may help satisfy the child support obligation.3

A screenshot showing the Multistate Financial Institution Data Match (FIDM) helps to find non-custodial or deadbeat parents, otherwise known as delinquent obligors.

Information from the FPLS is limited to the following individuals:

  • State child support agencies,
  • Attorneys for state child support agencies
  • Child support courts, court agents.
  • State child welfare agencies.
  • State foster care programs.
  • Certain court officials in kidnapping/child custodial interference cases.3

FPLS is a secure database that helps states find out if someone works at a company when that person owes child support; however, enforcement is typically left to the state level.

The table below lists the new hire agency for each state.

State Agency
Alabama Alabama Department of Labor
Alaska Alaska Department of Revenue, Child Support Services Division
Arizona New Hire Reporting Center
Arkansas New Hire Reporting Center
California Employment Development Department, New Employee Registry
Connecticut Office of Economic Security, New Hire Reporting Employer Services Portal
Delaware State Directory of New Hire Reporting
Florida Florida Department of Revenue, Child Support Services for Employers
Georgia New Hire Reporting Center
Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency
Idaho Idaho Department of Labor
Illinois Child Support Services, New Hire Reporting
Indiana New Hire Reporting Center
Iowa Child Support Enforcement
Kansas Department of Labor, New Hire Directory
Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, New Hire Reporting Employer Services Portal
Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, New Hire Directory
Maine Department of Health and Human Services, New Hire Portal
Maryland New Hire Reporting
Massachusetts Child Support Division
Michigan New hire Child Support Program
Minnesota New Hire Reporting Center
Mississippi Mississippi Department of Human Services, State Directory of New Hires
Missouri Missouri Department of Social Services
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child Support Services Division
Nebraska State Directory of New Hires
Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Welfare and Supportive Services
New Hampshire New Hampshire Employment Security
New Jersey Child Support Employer Services Portal
New Mexico New Hire Directory
New York Department of Taxation and Finance
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services
North Dakota North Dakota Child Support
Ohio Ohio Directory of New Hires
Oklahoma Oklahoma Employment Security Commission
Oregon Department of Justice, Child Support
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Career Link
Rhode Island Rhode Island New Hire Reporting Directory
South Carolina South Carolina New Hire Reporting
South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation
Tennessee Department of Human Services, New Hire Reporting Program
Texas Texas Child Support Portal
Utah Utah ID
Vermont Department of Labor
Virginia New Hire Reporting Center
Washington Department of Social and Health Service, Economic Services Administrative
West Virginia Health and Human Resources, New Hire Reporting Center
Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, New Hire Reporting Center
Wyoming New Hire Reporting Center

These state agencies work with the local child support enforcement program to make sure those agencies can help find someone who owes child support. These agencies also know how to find out someone’s salary for child support to make sure the child is receiving the maximum amount due.

Washington's new hire reporting program that requires the employer to report employees to the Division of Child Support program.

Locating a physical address for someone could mean pinpointing where they work, but could also include a mailing address.

How To Locate a Parent’s Physical Address for Child Support Notices

Locating a physical address for someone can be done in a variety of ways. One way is to search voter registration records in a county or state. Voter registration is considered public record, and some areas provide a mailing address for the individual voter; however, you will need the full name and date of birth of the person registered in cases to look up voter registration.

For example, Montana’s voter registration link requires a date of birth to search. This is one way to find out who lives here when looking for a physical address. A physical address is necessary to serve someone with notice of child support obligations.

The Montana Secretary of State site showing the voter registration information can be searched if the full name and date of birth of the person is known.

Local county clerk’s offices also maintain property records that can be searched online in a number of cases to help locate a physical address for someone who owes child support. This is only beneficial if the person owns the property for which they are taxed in that region.

Another way to locate someone’s address is to use a third-party search site. This carries a fee and results may or may not be up to date.

In addition to knowing how to locate a parent who owes child support, it’s important to know how child support works and how cases get started.

How Child Support Cases Work: Everything You Need to Know

Child support obligations can be agreed upon by the parents of the child without court involvement, called a voluntary service agreement; however, most child support cases require assistance from the state child support enforcement program and the local courts

When learning how to discover where someone works for child support and where paternity is questioned, a court must intervene to establish not only the child support amount, but whether or not the person identified as the father is the biological parent, and find the father when paternity has been determined.

Determining the amount of child support a person will pay each month depends on a number of factors in addition to state laws. Some things that are considered when determining the child support amount include:

  • Income earned by both parents (some states only consider the noncustodial parent’s income, but most states look at both incomes)
  • Amount of time each parent has the child in their physical custody
  • The age of the child or children
  • The number of children
  • Which parent carries insurance on the child or children
  • Childcare costs and who pays the childcare expenses
  • If there is anyone else in the household with the children, and if that person contributes to the household expenses.
  • Other factors the judge may consider relevant to the support of the child (such as education expenses, medical needs not covered by insurance, or supplemental income from either party such as bonuses or incentive pay).

Starting child support in most cases requires a court order, and all child support must be in compliance with state and federal laws. State agencies use a child support calculator that factors in the list above to determine the amount.

For example, California has an online child support calculator accessible to the general public to help the custodial parent get an estimate of the child support due. Factors that California uses to determine child support include the income of both parties, number of children, who carries insurance, and other support provided.4

Establishing Identity in Child Support Cases

Before a child support obligation can be ordered by a court, identifying the biological parent is key. Establishing paternity refers to conducting a DNA test to establish the male identified as the father is the actual biological parent.

Establishing parentage involves the court ordering the male submit to a DNA test which is then compared to the DNA of the child or children. Once the results confirm the person is the biological father, the court can then order that person to pay child support.

When DNA testing is ordered by the court, it must be done by an approved lab that follows the “chain of custody” for the sample. This simply means there are checks and balances in place to ensure the sample collected is for the person being tested, and the results are passed to the appropriate authorities for official use.5

State and Federal Child Support Laws

Each state has its own child support enforcement laws, and the federal government has passed legislation to help strengthen those laws. In 1992, Congress passed the Child Support Recovery Act which made failure to pay child support a misdemeanor offense. While this helped to an extent, many parents refusing to pay were not deterred by a misdemeanor charge.6

A screenshot showing the Child Support Recovery Act was implemented, followed by the Deadbeats Parents Punishment Act which made a failure to pay a felony offense that can lead to imprisonment or fines.

In response, Congress passed the Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act in 1998 to create a federal felony charge for those parents who had thousands in back child support that was unpaid.6

These laws help state agencies that are designated as Title IV-D agencies when it comes to enforcing child support and holding nonsupport offenders accountable.6

A screenshot showing that child support enforcement is not handled by the federal government in most cases.

State laws are enforced by the state agency that is designated by statute to provide support to families seeking child support. State agencies also oversee the process of establishing paternity in child support cases.

State Child Support Enforcement: How it Works

State agencies that manage child support enforcement and determination in each state are known as Title IV-D agencies. By working under state and federal statutes, these agencies help locate parents who owe child support, help establish the child support amount, work closely with families and the courts to make sure child support obligations are being met, and educate the public on child support enforcement in their state.

A screenshot showing the Child Support Enforcement Division in Alabama is a state and federal ran program that helps parents collect child support payments.

The table below lists the child support enforcement department for each state and the state child support statute or policy.

State Child Support Enforcement Authority Child Support Statute or Policy
Alabama Child Support Enforcement Division

500 North Ripley Street
Post Office Box 304000
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-4000
334-242-9300

Rule 32 of Judicial Administration
Alaska Child Support Services Division

550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 310
Anchorage, Alaska 99501-6699
970-269-6900

Civil Rule 90.3
Arizona Child Support Services

Centralized Mail Unit
Post Office Box 40458
Phoenix, Arizona 85067
602-252-4045

Revised Statute 25-320
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Child Support
[email protected]501-324-9057
9-14-240
California Child Support Services

Post Office Box 419064
Rancho Cordova, California 95741-9064
866-901-3212

Family Code 4053
Connecticut Support Enforcement Services

287 Main St
East Hartford Connecticut 06118
800-228-5437

Family Law Chapter 7
Delaware Division of Child Support Services

Post Office Box 11564
Wilmington, Delaware 19850
302-577-7171

Title 13
Florida Department of Revenue

Contact is via electronic means
305-530-2600

61.30
Georgia Division of Child Support Services

3626 Walton Way Extension
Suite Number 2
Augusta, Georgia 30909
877-423-4746

Senate Bill 427
Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency

Office of Child Support Hearings
601 Kamokila Boulevard Room Number 436
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
808-692-7110

Hawaii Family Court Child Support Enforcement Guidance
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Child Support

601 Pole Line Rd.
Twin Falls, Idaho 83301
800-356-9868

Judicial Rule 126
Illinois Child Support Services

Post Office Box 19405
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9405
800-447-4278

750 ILCS 5/505
Indiana Department of Child Services, Child Support

402 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
800-840-8757

Indiana Rules of Court, Child Support Guidelines
Iowa Department of Human Services, Child Support

Post Office Box 9125
Des Moines, Iowa 50306
888-229-9223

Chapter 9 Child Support Guidelines
Kansas Child Support Services

555 South Kansas Ave.
Topeka, KS 66603
888-757-2445

Statute 38-2277
Kentucky Child Support Enforcement

P.O. Box 14059
Lexington, KY 40512-4059
800-248-1163

403.212
Louisiana Child Support Enforcement

1546 Gretna Boulevard
Harvey, Louisiana 70058-5366
888-524-3578

RS 9:315
Maine Child Support Services

109 Capital St.
11 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333
207-624-4100

Title 19-A
Maryland Child Support Administration

311 W. Saratoga St.
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
800-332-6347

Family Law 12-101
Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement Division

67 Millbrook Street Suite 300
Worcester, Massachusetts 01606-2844
800-332-2733

119A
Michigan Health and Human Services Support Enforcement

51111 Woodward Ave.
Pontiac, Michigan 48342
877-543-2660

Family Support Act
Minnesota Child Support Enforcement

444 Lafayette Road
St Paul, Minnesota 55155
651-431-4400

256.741
Mississippi Department of Human Service, Child Support

200 S. Lamar Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
601-359-4500

43-19-101
Missouri Department of Social Services, Child Support

615 Howerton Ct
Post Office Box 2320
Jefferson City, Missouri 65102-2320
866-313-9960

452.340
Montana Child Support Services Division

CSSD Central Mailing
Post Office Box 202943
Helena, Montana 59602-2943
406-444-6856

Title 37, Chapter 62, Subchapter 1
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Child Support

301 Centennial Mall S,
Lincoln, NE 68509
402-471-3121

Nebraska Judicial Branch Article 2
Nevada Division of Welfare and Support Services, Child Support

300 E. 2nd St., Suite 1200
Reno, Nevada 89501
800-992-0900

Chapter 125B
New Hampshire Child Support Enforcement

129 Pleasant Street, Suite #4,
Concord, New Hampshire 03301
603-271-4427

Chapter 458C
New Jersey Child Support

29 Cottage St,
Jersey City, New Jersey 07306
877-655-4371

Rules of Court Appendix IX-A
New Mexico Child Support Enforcement Division

Post Office Box 2348
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504
800-283-4465

NMSA 40-4-11.1
New York Child Support Services

30 Clinton Avenue
Albany, New York 12084
888-208-4485

Family Court Act
North Carolina Child Support

Post Office Box 20800
Raleigh, North Carolina 27619-0800
800-992-9457

NCGS 50-13.4
North Dakota Child Support

Post Office Box 7190
1600 East Century Avenue Suite 7
Bismarck North Dakota 58501

CHAPTER 75-02-04.1
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Child Support

Post Office Box 182380
Columbus, OH 43218-238
800-686-1556

JFS 07766
Oklahoma Child Support Services

Post Office Box 248822
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73124405-522-2273

Article 4, Establishment of Support
Oregon Department of Justice, Child Support

Post Office Box 14680
Salem, Oregon 97309

Rules 137-050
Pennsylvania Child Support Program

25 South Front St,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17101
877–727-7238

Chapter 43, Title 23
Rhode Island Office of Child Support

77 Dorrance St.
Providence, Rhode Island 02903
401–458-4400

15-5-16.2
South Carolina Department of Social Services, Child Support

1535 Confederate Ave.
Columbia, South Carolina 29201-1915 800–768-5858

Title 63
South Dakota. Department of Social Services, Child Support

700 Governors Dr.
Pierre, South Dakota 57501
605-773-3165

Codified Law 25-7
Tennessee Child Support Program

505 Deaderick St.
Nashville, Tennessee 37243-1403
615-313-4880

CHAPTER 1240-2-4
Texas Child Support Enforcement

Post Office Box 12548
Austin, Texas 78711-2548
800-252–8014

Family Code Chapter 154
Utah Child Support Services

195 N 1950 W
Salt Lake City, Utah 84116
801–536-8500

Chapter 12 Utah Child Support Act
Vermont Office of Child Support

Post Office Box 1310
Williston, Vermont 05495
800-786-3214

Title 15, Chapter 11, Subchapter 003A
Virginia Child Support

801 East Main St
Richmond Virginia 23219-2901
800-468-8894

20-108.2
Washington Division of Child Support

Post Office BOX 11699
Tacoma, Washington 98411-6699
800-442-5437

Chapter 26.19
West Virginia Bureau for Child Support Enforcement

350 Capitol Street Room 147,
Charleston, West Virginia 25301
304-558-3780

Chapter 48, Domestic Relations
Wisconsin Child Support Program

201 W Washington Ave
Post Office Box 8916
Madison, Wisconsin 53703-8916
608-422-7000

767.511
Wyoming Child Support Program

2300 Capitol Ave
Hathaway Building C
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002
307-777-6948

20-2-301

These state agencies have access to the Federal Parent Locator Service and this is how to learn where someone works for child support in the most efficient, cost effective method that’s available to the custodial parent.

The Title IV-D state agency can find out where the noncustodial parent works, start the proceedings to get child support established, enforce the child support order, and file the necessary action when a child support order is not being followed.

What Happens When Child Support Payments Are Not Being Made?

When child support payments are not being made, the state agency can file a motion with the court for the violation. The agency can alert state and federal revenue departments to withhold tax refunds to help satisfy child support payments.

The courts can also issue a warrant for the arrest of the individual. In some states, the amount of bond on a child support warrant is equal to the back child support due. For example, in North Carolina, a person can be arrested on a child support warrant for being $2000 behind on payments. The court will establish a cash bond of $2000 which will go to satisfy the obligation when the person posts bail.

A screenshot of NC courts explaining that a failure to pay can result in withheld wages and'/or jail time.

Employers also need to know how to determine if an employee is in police custody due to a child support warrant when they fail to show up for work.

A warrant is only one way the state can try to enforce a child support order or obligation. Another option is wage garnishment. Knowing how to learn where someone works for child support also helps the state agency start wage garnishment processing to satisfy the obligation.

Wage Garnishment and Child Support: What a Parent Needs to Know

When a person is not making their child support payments, their wages from their employment can be garnished to help satisfy the child support obligation. Garnishment simply means the money is taken out of the paycheck before the person receives it.

A screenshot revealing that wage garnishments are withheld from a persons earnings, ordered by court, and do no include voluntary giving of funds to creditors or custodial parents.

The Title IV-D state agency petitions the court to order garnishment when child support payments are not being made in some cases. Other states allow garnishment without a court order. The state agencies locate someone’s place of employment for garnishment and send the necessary notices to the employers.

The state agencies use the FPLS for assistance in how to find where someone works for garnishment to make sure their records are up to date, and to track those individuals who move from state to state to avoid child support.

The table below lists the wage garnishment laws for each state, as well as limitations on garnishment and the laws, discuss how to learn where someone works for child support.

State Wage Garnishment Law Limitations
Alabama Rule 64A Up to 65% of disposable income
Alaska AS 09.38.030-.065 Up to 65% of disposable income
Arizona Wages, Salary and Compensation Up to 50% of disposable income
Arkansas follows federal garnishment guidelines outlined in 15 U.S.C. § 1673 Up to 60% of disposable income
California Code Of Civil Procedure Title 9, Division 2, Chapter 9 Up to 60% of disposable income
Connecticut CGS 52-362 Up to 60% of disposable income
Delaware Title 13 Up to 65% of disposable income
Florida Title VI, Chapter 61, Section 12 Up to 65% of disposable income
Georgia Statute 19-11-19 Up to 50% of disposable income
Hawaii 576D-14 Up to 65% of disposable income
Idaho Section 32-1210 Up to 65% of disposable income
Illinois 750 ILCS 28 Up to60% of disposable income
Indiana Statute 24-4.5-5-105 Up to 60% of disposable income
Iowa Chapter 642 Up to60% of disposable income
Kansas 23-3104 Up to 50% of disposable income
Kentucky 405.465 Up to 65% of disposable income
Louisiana RS 46:236.3 Up to 50% of disposable income
Maine Title 9A-Article5, Part 1 Up to 65% of disposable income
Maryland Family Law 10-128 Up to60% of disposable income
Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 246, Section 28 Up to 60% of disposable income
Michigan 600.4012 Up to 50% of disposable income
Minnesota Section 571.922 Up to 25% of disposable income
Mississippi 11-35-13 Up to 60% of disposable income
Missouri 454.505 Up to 25% of disposable income
Montana 39-71-743 Up to 65% of disposable income
Nebraska 25-1558 Up to 60% of disposable income
Nevada 1.1.7.02 Up to 60% of disposable income
New Hampshire 282A:152 Up to 25% of disposable income
New Jersey 2A:17-56.9 Up to 60% of disposable income
New Mexico 35-12-7 Up to 50% of disposable income
New York Civil Practice Law and Rules 5231 Up to 65% of disposable income
North Carolina 110-136 Up to 40% of disposable income
North Dakota Chapter 14-08.1 Up to 60% of disposable income
Ohio Chapter 2716 Up to 25% of disposable income
Oklahoma 12-1171.2 Up to 65% of disposable income
Oregon Division 18 Garnishments Up to 50% of disposable income
Pennsylvania Title 23, 4348 Up to 60% of disposable income
Rhode Island Chapter 10-5-8 Up to 50% of disposable income
South Carolina 37-5-104 Up to 50% of disposable income
South Dakota 12-18-27.1 Up to 65% of disposable income
Tennessee 36-5-501 Up to 65% of disposable income
Texas Family Code Chapter 158 Up to 50% of disposable income
Utah 78B-12-203 Up to 65% of disposable income
Vermont 3208 Administrative Garnishment Up to 25% of disposable income
Virginia 16 VAC 15-20-30 Up to 65% of disposable income
Washington 25.60 Up to 25% of disposable income
West Virginia 48-13-101 Up to 20% of disposable income
Wisconsin 812.34 Up to 65% of disposable income
Wyoming 1-15-504 Up to 50% of disposable income

State agencies that petition or file for wage garnishment use a calculator to determine the exact amount to be taken from the paycheck. That is why it is vital to know how to discover where someone works for child support. Failure to pay child support can have other consequences than garnishment or loss of tax refunds which could include jail time.

Does Child Support Appear on a Background Check?

Since child support can be part of a family court order, it can be considered a public record and may appear on a background check. Failure to pay child support can reflect on a person’s credit history, and may also appear on a background check as a contempt charge for failure to comply.

While child support isn’t a standard on most background checks, there is a possibility it could show up on one. Additionally, garnishment requests are sent directly to the employer which alerts them of a child support obligation.

In order to fill the gap of children who are not receiving the support they need, states are working diligently to enforce support orders. These agencies know how to discover where someone works for child support, legally enforce the court’s order, and notify the courts of noncompliance when necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Child Support Warrant Appear On a Background Check?

A child support warrant or order for arrest may appear on a background check since it is a court record and considered public. Do warrants show up on background checks for child support? They can and sometimes do.

How Does Failure To Pay Child Support Affect Employment?

Failure to pay child support can result in wage garnishment which impacts the amount of take-home pay each pay period. Failure to pay could also result in an arrest warrant which can cause a person to miss work and possibly result in termination.


References

National Single Parent Day: March 21, 2022. (2022, March 21). Census Bureau. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from <https://www.census.gov/newsroom/stories/single-parent-day.html>

44% of Custodial Parents Receive the Full Amount of Child Support. (2018, January 30). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from <https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2018/cb18-tps03.html>

Overview of Federal Parent Locator Service | The Administration for Children and Families. (2011, December 29). The Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from <https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/training-technical-assistance/overview-federal-parent-locator-service>

Guideline Calculator | CA Child Support Services. (n.d.). CA Child Support Services. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from <https://childsupport.ca.gov/guideline-calculator/>

Establishing Paternity and Legal Paternity Testing – HomeDNA Paternity. (2021, August 31). DNATesting.com. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from <https://dnatesting.com/establishing-paternity-and-legal-paternity-testing/>

Child Support Enforcement. (2020, May 28). Department of Justice. Retrieved September 23, 2022, from <https://www.justice.gov/criminal-ceos/child-support-enforcement>

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