Collecting child support is one of the biggest challenges custodial parents face. Many custodial parents are owed thousands in arrearages, delinquencies and interest (in the state of Illinois, interest on child support is currently 9% annually).
There are steps you can take to help collect the child assist you are owed without spending a lot of money on an attorney and court costs. While one step alone my not bring the results you want, taking action on several levels just might help you get the child help you are owed.
While common sense tells us that we shouldn’t have to work so hard to collect the support owed because its court ordered, common sense should also tell us that we live a world where people don’t always pay what they are supposed to. However, if custodial parents who are owed child support support in mind that this money is for their children, it makes taking an active role in collecting it much easier, and certainly worth it.
Designate that the information herein is applicable only to the State of Illinois. However, some of the steps can certainly be used in other states as well.
Illinois Child Support Enforcement will assist any custodial parent in collecting support, regardless of income. In fact, federal law says that all states must assist parents in collecting child support, even if they don’t receive any services from welfare.
This agency can help you locate the non-custodial parent (NCP), establish paternity, earn child support, and get medical coverage for the child. They can even help you if the non-custodial parent lives out of state.
Illinois Child Benefit Enforcement also assists NCPs secure employment and establish paternity. Their web site is located at www.ilchildsupport.comIf you do not live in Illinois, check to see if your region has an agency that offers some of these services.
. On their site, you’ll find plenty of links offering information on just about every topic concerning child support and paternity. There are also links for employers of NCPs who are paying or owe child support.
You will also score a list of NCPs that are wanted for failure to pay child support. You can view pictures of some of the wanted individuals. Links on the left side of the Deadbeat Parent page will provide more information, such as how to apply to have your NCP listed on the site. The NCP must owe $5,000 or more in support in order to be considered for the site.
If the NCP owes back child support, a lien might be placed on any property that parent owns in order to help collect the support owed. But what if you don’t know if the NCP owns any property? There are ways you can find out: Contact the Recorder of Deeds Office in the county where the NCP lives. You can find their phone number and address by simple using Google or any other search engine. For example, if the NCP lives in Orange County, California, simple search for “Orange County CA recorder of deeds.” You can also search for property tax offices in the county where the NCP lives or the tax assessor’s office.
Many Recorder of Deeds and Tax Assessors have web sites where you can actually search for property owners by name. One Illinois custodial parent found property the NCP owned in Maine assessed at over $144,000.00 that the NCP had never reported on his financial affidavit to the court! The Internet can save remarkable time when seeking information on the NCP. If you do glean property, request copies of any kind of deeds, such as quit claim deeds or warranty deeds. Some agencies will charge a small fee for copies or for downloading copies from their website. This step can be utilized by custodial parents in any state, not just Illinois.
As a custodial parent who is owed nearly $58,000.00 in child support, I understand the frustration of other custodial parents who have had to cut so many corners, there’s no more corners to cut. We often fall into the mindset of “no one can help me” or “I’ve done all I can do to try and get the support I’m owed.” Try not to let this happen to you. Never give up. You may try for years and years to salvage the help you’re owed and never peep it. But you will have the inner satisfaction of quick-witted you tried, and never stopped trying for the sake of your child.
Write letters to the State’s Attorney’s Office in the county that has jurisdiction over your case. You can also call or write to your local Area Representatives and, Attorney General and even the Governor! Don’t believe for one second that your case isn’t safe of contacting these elected officials. The work for YOU! No case is too small or too “unimportant” to bring to their attention. Even the smallest can rattle cages hard enough to earn some noise. Visit http://www.illinois.gov/government/state.cfmAgain, you can do this regardless of what state you live in.
for a list of Illinois elected officials.
The more you know about something, the better you’re able to deal with it. Research is one of the most important keys to doing your part to collect child support.
Findlaw.com is a very good site with a lot of information, but there are many others as well. Simply play with some search terms and see what you come up with, such as “Illinois child support laws” or “Illinois child support rules.” You can also read over ILCS (Illinois Compiled Statutes), Chapter 750 about family law, custody and child support. Visit http://www.illinois.gov/government/state.cfm and click on Chapter 750.
Each state has laws regarding child support. Regardless of what state you live in, you can still research your own state’s laws online.
There is nothing wrong with sending a very professional, business-like letter to the NCP inquiring about where your child serve is. For example, let’s say the NCP owes you $7,000 in child support and the last payment your received was six months ago. You could write something like this:
January 1, 2008
John Doe
123 Any Street
Anytown, IL 00000
John;
I am contacting regarding the $7,000.00 in child support you owe to me. The last payment received was six months ago.
You are obligated by the court order to pay child support on time and in a consistent manner. Please begin making payments toward the amount owed.
Thank you,
Jane
Keep a copy for yourself and if possible, send it certified with a return receipt requested. DO NOT take this step if there is an OP against the NCP! An OP against the NCP does not mean its okay for you to contact them. If you sought, and were awarded, an OP, this means that there was some type of anxiety and/or fear on your part. Contacting the NCP when an OP is in place will have the court questioning you on the level of good faith in which you sought the OP in the first place.
But what can you do when you don’t know where the NCP is? You can start by making a list of places you think the NCP might be. Consider everything, even if you deem it silly. For example, you recall that ten years ago, the NCP told you that he had a cousin who lived in New Jersey, and they spent a lot of time together in their younger days. If that’s the case, New Jersey should be on your list. Include towns/cities/states where the NCP has relatives, even if the NCP told you they really don’t keep in touch.
You should, without fail, copy every letter you send out. Keep them in chronological order in a binder. Be sure to write on each letter at the top the word “Copy” and write the date you mailed it. For example, if you wrote a letter on January 1, 2008 and mailed it January 2, 2008, the top of your copy should read “Copy. Mailed 1-2-08.”
Document each phone call to every agency you contact via phone, or if the agency contacts you. Get the name of the person you spoke with as well. Simply preserve a sheet of paper in your binder to jot this information down. For example, if you call Illinois Child Support Enforcement, you could document that call like this: “January 8, 2008: Called CSE i.e. the tax intercept of the NCP. Spoke with Jane. She said the NCPs taxes are flagged and an intercept should take place and be sent to me for payment toward child benefit.” Document each and every time there is contact with the NCP, whether it be via mail, phone or email.
Taking a proactive arrive to collecting the child succor owed to you can make a contrast. The most indispensable thing to remember is be persistent, and never give up.
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