Family & Safety

When the paying parent fails to pay child support, it not only impacts the financial stability of the child involved but also has legal consequences for the receiving parent. The law takes the enforcement of child support seriously, allowing different ways a receiving parent can force a paying parent to provide the support.

First, the parents should try to work out the problem on their own if it is safe to do so. If the parents are having trouble talking, then mediation When a neutral person, called a mediator, works to help the parties in a case reach an agreement may be a good option. It is important that if the parents agree to a change or solution, they get it entered as a court order.

If mediation does not work, then the parent who receives child support may:

• File a lawsuit to enforce the child support order or
• Contact the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) for help with collecting current and past due child support. 
   

Learn more about enforcing a child support order.