code: private static Element getDeleteSet(Document plf, IPerson person, boolean create)
              throws PortalException {
          Node root = plf.getDocumentElement();
          Node child = root.getFirstChild();
  
          while (child != null) {
              if (child.getNodeName().equals(Constants.ELM_DELETE_SET)) return (Element) child;
              child = child.getNextSibling();
          }
  
          if (create == false) return null;
  
          String ID = null;
  
          try {
              ID = getDLS().getNextStructDirectiveId(person);
          } catch (Exception e) {
              throw new PortalException(
                      "Exception encountered while "
                              + "generating new delete set node "
                              + "Id for userId="
                              + person.getID(),
                      e);
          }
          Element delSet = plf.createElement(Constants.ELM_DELETE_SET);
          delSet.setAttribute(Constants.ATT_TYPE, Constants.ELM_DELETE_SET);
          delSet.setAttribute(Constants.ATT_ID, ID);
          root.appendChild(delSet);
          return delSet;
      }
docs: Get the delete set if any stored in the root of the document or create it is passed in create
  flag is true.