Methods and techniques are described for efficiently supporting periodic and triggered location services for a user equipment (UE) in a Fifth Generation wireless network. A serving core network (CN) node, such as an AMF, receives a request for periodic or triggered location for the UE from another CN entity, such as a GMLC, and transfers the request to a location server, such as an LMF, which initiates and establishes the periodic and triggered location session with the UE. The serving CN node then releases all resources for the location request. The UE monitors for periodic or trigger events and reports each event to a location server which forwards an event report, optionally containing a UE location, to an external client via a CN entity, such as GMLC. The event reporting can be efficient because a serving CN node is not materially involved.