Nj Diligent Form – Fill Out and Use This PDF

Family – Chancery

Certification of Diligent Search

July 2021

Certification of Diligent Search

Superior Court of New Jersey - Chancery Division - Family Part

Who Should Use This Packet?

You can use this packet if your case type starts with the letters FD.

A Non-Dissolution (FD) case is a court case about family matters such as custody, parenting time, child support, spousal support for married people that are separated, and requests from relatives such as grandparents, aunts, or uncles filing in court about the custody and care of minor children. A diligent search is used for a Non-Dissolution (FD) case when the person filing in court does not have an address for the person they are filing against in the case. That parent or legal guardian should receive a notice to appear in court.

This packet includes information on attempting to find the location of the parent or legal guardian named in your case, along with sample letters and forms that can be used to ask for location information. You must send a letter or complete the identified forms for all locations listed on the next page. If you omit any location, you must explain to the court the reason for excluding that particular place.

The court must determine that you have made a serious effort to obtain information about the location of the parent or guardian named in your case, and that you have followed up on any information that you have received about their whereabouts. The Certification of Diligent Search form is returned to the Court along with copies of all letters or forms you have sent and any responses you have received.

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CN 11494 (Letter of Inquiry to Military – Air Force)

Instructions – How to Complete the Diligent Search Certification

You should send the letters or forms listed below to any people or agencies that might have an address for the parent or guardian named in your case. You must keep copies of the letters you send and any responses you receive so you can submit them to the court as evidence of your attempts to find the parent or guardian. These letters and forms include:

a)Letters sent to the parent’s or guardian’s relatives and last known employers who might know their address. This letter should be sent by both regular and certified mail, return receipt requested. The signed return receipt card (or electronic receipt) should be submitted to the court as evidence.

b)If the parent or guardian had a driver’s license in New Jersey, submit a completed “Driver License Application Request” form to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), along with any required fee. If you have access to the Internet, you can obtain the form at www.njmvc.gov and a copy is included with this packet. If the parent or guardian lived in another state, you should contact that state’s motor vehicle department to ask them how to request this information.

c)The U.S. Department of Defense (Defense Manpower Data Center), request for a Certification of Military Service or Non-Service – General. If the U.S. Department of Defense does not provide enough information, the Court might ask you to send separate letters to the different branches of the U.S. Military. If you are required to send additional letters, you can send them by regular mail.

If you have access to the Internet, and you know the parent or guardian’s birth date or Social Security Number, you can obtain information about active military service from the Department of Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC) at: https://scra.dmdc.osd.mil/scra/#/home

If the Court requires you to send letters to the different branches of the U.S. Military, your letters must contain as much information as you know about the parent or guardian , such as their full name, Social Security Number, date and place of birth, last known military address, service number, rank or grade, (officer/enlisted), and last duty assignment. The reason for your request must be included. This process can take several weeks.

For information on sending inquiries to different branches of the U.S. Military, please see the detailed information below and this link: https://www.usa.gov/military-personnel-and- installations

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Air Force Worldwide Locator:

HQ AFPC/DP1ORM 550 C St West,

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph TX 78150

Locator Service: https://www.afpc.af.mil/Support/Worldwide-Locator/

(210)565-2660 DSN: 665-2660

Include an envelope with a return address, proper postage affixed and the individual's name in the addressee portion of the envelope. Place this envelope in a larger envelope with your check or money order for $3.50 made payable to DAO-DE JBSA-R.

The Worldwide Locator also provides a "Statement or Verification of Service". This applies to active duty Air Force personnel only. A fee of $5.20, per individual written request, is required. Checks or money orders must be made payable to DAO-DE JBSA-R

Army:

(https://www.marines.mil/FAQ/)

Commander Soldier’s Records Data Center (SRDC) 8899 East 56th Street

Indianapolis, IN 46249-5301

NOTE: All requests must be in writing.

You may also contact them by phone at 1-866-771-6357

U.S. Coast Guard

Commander

Personnel Service Center

ATTN: PSC-BOPS-C-MR

US Coast Guard Stop 7200

2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

Washington DC 20593-7200

E-mail: MR_CustomerService@uscg.mil https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources- CG-1/Personnel-Service-Center-PSC/BOPS/PSC-BOPS-C/PSC-BOPS-C-MR/

Fax: 202-372-8440

Marine Corps:

(https://www.marines.mil/FAQ/) Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps

Personnel Management Support Branch (MMSB-17)

2008 Elliott Road, Quantico, VA 22134-5030

Locator Service: 703-784-3941/3942/3943

Because of the large volume of requests that each service locator receives, please allow at least four weeks processing time for written requests. Please contact officials of our Defense

Manpower Data Center for assistance with military verification. Their telephone number is (703) 696-6762.

Navy Worldwide Locator

(https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Frequently-Asked-Questions/) BUPERS-07 Customer Service Center

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5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055-3120 (901)874-3388

d)You should mail the “Request for Change of Address or Boxholder Information Needed for Service of Legal Process” to the U.S. Post Office where you believe the parent or guardian last resided. This form should be sent by regular mail.

It is important to enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope with each letter or form to encourage the person or agency to write back to you. Please refer to the attached certification.

The following sample Letters of Inquiry are attached to assist you:

▪Letter of Inquiry to Other Party’s Relatives and Last Known Employers

▪Letter of Inquiry to Military - Air Force (if necessary)

▪Letter of Inquiry to Military – Army (if necessary)

▪Letter of Inquiry to Military - Coast Guard (if necessary)

▪Letter of Inquiry to Military - Marine Corps (if necessary)

▪Letter of Inquiry to Military – Navy (if necessary)

▪Request for Certificate of Military Service or Non-Service - General

▪Letter of Inquiry to New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission/“Driver License Application Request” Form

▪Letter of Inquiry to the United States Postal Service/“Request for Change of Address or Boxholder Information Needed for Service of Legal Process” Form to be submitted to the United States Postal Service

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CN 11494 (Letter of Inquiry to Military – Air Force)

Letter to Parent’s or Guardian’s Relatives or Last Known Employers

Filer’s Name

Filer’s Street Address
City ______________________________________		State______	Zip Code ________________
Date

Name of the person to whom you are writing

Street Address of the person to whom you are writing

City

State

Zip Code

RE:

Docket Number:

Caption/title of case

Docket #

Dear

:

Name of the person to whom

you are writing

Please be advised that I have filed a court complaint against

your

.

Non-filer’s name

Non-filer’s relationship to the person

I write to request that you inform me about the home address of

,

if you know that information.

Non-Filer’s name

I am trying to give notice to

of the fact that I have filed

Non-filer’s name

a court complaint against

so that

can appear in court, or answer and defend this

they/them

they/them

complaint. To assist you in promptly returning your answer to me, I have enclosed a stamped, self- addressed envelope.

Thank you for your assistance.

Very truly yours,

Filer’s Signature

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CN 11494 (Letter of Inquiry to Military – Air Force)