For more information regarding enforcing child support payments in Chicago, Illinois, contact child support lawyer Angela Larimer at 773-370-0600.
Child support payments in Illinois are enforceable court orders regardless of whether they are mutually agreed upon or issued by courts. If the paying parent fails to meet his or her child support obligations recurrently, he or she is likely to face a child support contempt hearing in court. If the non-paying parent fails to appear in court, the court is likely to issue an arrest warrant against him or her. Divorced parents can resolve their child-support issues, such as developing, enforcing, and adjusting child support payments, by contacting child support lawyer Angela Larimer at Larimer Law, LLC (773-370-0600).
An Overview of Illinois Child Support
Illinois law requires both parents to provide financial support for their children. Child support payments must be reasonable and sufficient to cater to the unique educational, physical, psychological, and emotional needs of a child. Illinois courts use the income shares model to calculate child support. This method assesses the income of both parents, the number of overnights each parent enjoys with the child(ren), and the number of kids involved. The model also takes into account the costs that would be involved with upbringing if the child(ren) resided with both parents and the parents shared finances.
Methods of Enforcing Child Support in Illinois
While many paying parents pay their child support without issues, some outrightly refuse to fulfill their court-ordered child support obligations. The following are methods of enforcing child support in Illinois:
Wage Garnishments
Wage garnishment is the most common method of collecting outstanding child support payments. It involves automatically deducting the unpaid child support from the paycheck of the non-paying parent. The court reviews the amount owed before deciding the percentage to be deducted from the paycheck.
Suspending or Revoking Licenses
If a parent is over three months late on the child support payments, his or her driver’s license and any professional and vocational licenses can be revoked or suspended.
Seizing State and Federal Tax Refunds
The Illinois Administrative Code allows the Department of Healthcare and Family Services ("DHFS") to collect outstanding child support by seizing non-paying parents’ federal and state tax refunds and other federal and state payments.
Initiating Contempt Proceedings
DHFS can commence contempt proceedings against the paying parent who has refused to make payments. This will require the parent to appear in court and tell the judge why he or she has defied a legal court order.
Paying parents should always meet their child-support obligations to avoid facing these enforcement tactics. A child support lawyer can explain to parents the available options when it comes to enforcing child support orders. The attorney can also advise on the best co-parenting apps and strategies to help address child support-related conflicts.