Establishment of Paternity and Service of Process when Noncustodial Parent is in the US Military

INTERNATIONAL DEAR COLLEAGUE LETTER

IDCL-08-01

DATE: Feburary 26, 2008

TO: FOREIGN RECIPROCATING COUNTRIES

SUBJECT: Establishment of Paternity and Service of Process when the Noncustodial Parent is in the United States Military, Stationed Domestically or Abroad

Dear Colleague:

The Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) has received numerous inquiries from Foreign Reciprocating Countries (FRC) regarding paternity establishment and service of process when the noncustodial parent (NCP) is living on a United States military base. The purpose of this letter is to provide information about the most expedient and appropriate process for working a child support enforcement case when the NCP is in the United States military, stationed domestically in the United States or abroad in another country. Given the complexity of the process, we developed the following flow charts:

Flow Chart 1: Foreign Reciprocating Country (FRC) Seeks Paternity Establishment Through State IV-D Agency When Noncustodial Parent (NCP) is Living on a Military Base.

Flow Chart 2: Foreign Reciprocating Country (FRC) Sends Request Through State IV-D Agency Requiring Service of Process When Noncustodial Parent (NCP) is Living on a Military Base.

We hope that this information is helpful for understanding the steps that may occur when working a child support enforcement case involving a United States military member. If you have any questions, you may contact the State Child Support Enforcement Agency working the reciprocal child support case or ocseinternational@acf.hhs.gov.

Sincerely,

Margot Bean
Commissioner
Office of Child Support Enforcement

Enclosure