Whether you recently lost your job and need to find another way to pay child support or you are in the middle of a divorce and have uncertainty about how child support works, it is crucial to go over your options with respect to paying support. There are various ways that you can make these payments in Illinois, and it is vital to find the method that works best for you.
Pinpointing the most practical child support payment method can reduce the likelihood of falling behind, which could lead to devastating penalties.
Income withholding and child support
A lot of parents pay child support through income withholding orders that allow their employers to automatically take child support payments out of their wages. However, this does not apply to every parent, such as those who become unemployed or self-employed. Even if you lose your job or run your own business, this does not cancel out your obligations if a court order requires you to pay child support.
Looking at various child support payment methods
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services goes over some of the ways you can pay child support. For example, you can make child support payments online using your credit card, bank account or PayPal account. If you decide to use one of these methods, make sure you pay attention to registration fees and convenience fees.
In addition, you can pay support over the phone or mail child support to the state. Paying by phone can take up to seven days to process, and make sure you provide correct information (such as your case number and Social Security number) when mailing payments.