{"id":373059,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:14","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/illinois-law\/illinois-child-support-enforcement.html"},"modified":"2018-03-20T12:28:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-20T17:28:58","slug":"illinois-child-support-enforcement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/illinois-law\/illinois-child-support-enforcement.html","title":{"rendered":"Illinois Child Support Enforcement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Illinois Child Support Enforcement<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Paying child support<\/a> is an important obligation. If a non-custodial parent<\/a> stops paying child support under a child support order, there can be major consequences.<\/p>\n

In Illinois, child support orders are usually enforced through state courts, but in certain circumstances can be enforced by federal law.<\/p>\n

Illinois courts can do a number of things to a parent who doesn\u2019t pay their child support including sending him or her to jail, ordering him or her to perform community service, imposing steep fines, wage garnishment, and other penalties. Criminal punishment is usually reserved for parents who willfully don\u2019t pay for over six months a person or have over $10,000 in back payments, also called arrearages<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If the non-custodial parent is having problems making payments, he or she can always seek to modify their existing support order. This will require going back to court and explaining to the judge why they can\u2019t make the payments.<\/p>\n

Enforcing Child Support Orders in Illinois<\/h2>\n

To enforce or collect a child support order, you\u2019ll need to contact your local child support agency and bring a copy of your child support order. Those agencies will began an investigation and try to get the non-custodial parent to pay. Child support agencies have a number of different resources available to help collect the support including:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Intercepting state and federal income tax refunds;
\n\u2022 Wage garnishment;
\n\u2022 Placing a lien against property;
\n\u2022 Garnishing a bank account;
\n\u2022 Suspending or revoking the parent\u2019s Illinois driver\u2019s license;
\n\u2022 Requesting state or federal criminal prosecution for non-payment;
\nin certain circumstances;
\n\u2022 Denial of a U.S. passport if over $2,500 in arrears; and
\n\u2022 List the name and photograph of the parent on the \u201cIllinois Deadbeat Parent<\/a>\u201d website (usually reserved for parents who owe $5,000 or more in past-due child support).<\/p>\n

The following table highlights the main provisions of Illinois’s Child Support Enforcement Laws. See also How Do I Locate a Parent for Child Support<\/a>, and Enforcement and Collection of Back Child Support<\/a> for general information on those topics.
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Code Section<\/b><\/td>\n750 ILCS 5\/505<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>
Who is Responsible?<\/b><\/td>\nBoth Parents.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Agencies<\/b><\/td>\nIllinois Department of Child Support Services, Illinois Attorney General, and State\u2019s Attorney.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
Remedies Available<\/b><\/td>\nWage Garnishment, Fines, Possible Criminal Prosecution, Possible Denial of a U.S. Passport, Interception of tax refunds, worker\u2019s compensation awards, or other state benefits, reporting to a credit bureau, and more.<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

Federal Enforcement<\/h2>\n

If the non-custodial parent moves out of Illinois, the support order can still be enforced in any other U.S. state under the Uniform Federal Family Support Act<\/a>. If you need help locating the other parent, the federal government has a Federal Parent Locator Service<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Who Can Help Me Enforce Child Support Orders in Illinois?<\/h2>\n

Child support enforcement laws are complicated. There are a number of different resources available to you in Illinois. You can start by contacting a private family law attorney who can do all the legwork. You can also get in touch with your local legal aid provider.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a list of child support enforcement agencies.<\/p>\n

1. Illinois Department of Child Support Services<\/a> – Assistance in getting a child support order in your county;<\/p>\n

2. State\u2019s Attorney<\/a> – For assistance in getting a child support order enforced in another county;<\/p>\n

3. Office of the Attorney General<\/a> – For assistance in getting a child support order enforced in another state.<\/p>\n

Get Answers to Your Child Support Questions: Contact an Attorney<\/h2>\n

Issues surrounding child support payments can get heated quickly, particularly when the noncustodial parent fails or refuses to pay child support. If you aren’t getting the child support payments owed to your family, you have options. The best way to learn about those options is to speak with an experienced Illinois child support attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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