---
kind: "section"
citation: "29 C.F.R. § 4050.204"
title: "29"
number: "4050.204"
heading: "Diligent search."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/29/4050.204"
---

# §4050.204. Diligent search.

- (a) **Search requirement—**
  - (1) **In general.** Except as provided in [paragraph (a)(2)](#a-2) of this section, a [subpart B](/cfr/29/subpartB.md) plan must, within the time frame described in [paragraph (b)](#b) of this section, have diligently searched for each distributee of the plan whose location the plan does not know with reasonable certainty upon close-out in accordance with regulations and other applicable guidance issued by the Secretary of Labor under [section 404](/cfr/29/404.md) of ERISA.
  - (2) **Notifying plans.** For a notifying plan, the requirement of [paragraph (a)(1)](#a-1) of this section applies only to distributees identified in the filing with PBGC.
- (b) **Time frame.** A search for a missing distributee must be made within nine months before a filing is made under [§ 4050.205](/cfr/29/4050.205.md) identifying the distributee as a missing distributee.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 29 U.S.C. 1302(b)(3), 1350.

### Source

Source: 82 FR 60818, Dec. 22, 2017, unless otherwise noted.