Pursuing Overdue Child Support in Illinois - What Are Your Options?

 Posted on October 30,2018 in Child Support

Child support is intended to offset the costs of raising a child for the primary parent, which can ultimately improve the child's overall living conditions. Unfortunately, some paying parents do not seem to understand the value of their financial contribution. They dodge payments or stop making them altogether and leave the custodial parent with all the responsibility, which can cause unnecessary suffering for the child. Learn more about your options in such a situation, and discover how the assistance of a seasoned family law attorney can help to improve the outcome of your overdue child support case.

Avoid Taking Matters Into Your Own Hands

When a child is suffering unnecessarily, and the person who can help refuses to do so, parents receiving child support can become angry, frustrated, and distressed. These feelings can sometimes lead them to take matters into their own hands. Common actions involve showing up at a paying parent's home or place of employment, demanding payment, and withholding court-ordered parenting time.

Sadly, when custodial parents behave in such a way, they not only add unnecessary stress to their own life, but they also put themselves at risk for negative action from the non-custodial parent. A parent who receives support can be held in contempt if they start to withhold court-ordered parenting time from the delinquent parent, as these legal matters are considered separate by the courts. Showing up at a paying parent's home or work only puts one at risk for criminal charges (i.e. stalking, etc). Thankfully, there are more effective ways to pursue overdue child support.

More Effective Methods for Pursuing Overdue Child Support

Parents who are searching for a more effective way to recover overdue child support payments may wish to go through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS), which has the power to garnish a delinquent parent's wages. They can also intercept tax refunds, report the overdue support to credit agencies, or suspend a delinquent parent's driver's license or professional license to recover or encourage payments. Unfortunately, the staff to case ratio is an area of concern for many receiving parents, as it can sometimes take months or years to achieve positive results through DHFS.

Contact our Plainfield, IL Child Support Lawyers

At the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., we believe that every child deserves the love and support of both biological parents. Our Will County child support attorneys can help you recover overdue child support payments, even if you have been unsuccessful in using other methods. Depending on the situation, we may even be able to help you collect interest on the past-due payments. Start by calling 815-733-5350 and scheduling a free consultation with our offices today.

Sources:

https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/ChildSupport/parents/Pages/FAQs.aspx#remedies

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050k505.htm