(a)

1. (1) Federal regulations and state law require that action to establish child support obligations be taken within certain timeframes.

2. (2) The Office of Child Support Enforcement must, within ninety (90) calendar days of locating the putative father or noncustodial parent, and regardless of whether paternity has been established:

   1. (A) Establish an order for support;
   2. (B) Complete service of process necessary to commence proceedings; or
   3. (C) Document unsuccessful attempts to serve process despite diligent efforts to obtain service of process.

3. (3) If the court dismisses a petition for a support order without prejudice, the office must, at the time of dismissal:

   1. (A) Examine the reasons for dismissal; and
   2. (B) Determine when it would be appropriate to seek an order in the future.

(b) Additionally, in all cases in which an order of support needs to be established and regardless of whether or not paternity has been established, action to obtain the order of support must be completed within:

1. (1) Six (6) months of the date of service in seventy-five percent (75%) of such cases; and
2. (2) Twelve (12) months from the date of service in ninety percent (90%) of such cases.

(c)

1. (1) If long-arm jurisdiction rules to establish paternity and support are used, paternity establishment and/or support order establishment should be completed within twelve (12) months of service of process.
2. (2) Paternity establishment and support order establishment should be completed as one (1) action when appropriate.