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Child Support
The Child Support Division of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office works with the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services to provide child support services to all residents of Lake County.
The cases that the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office handles are initiated by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS). The State’s Attorney’s Office receives referrals from IDHFS on the following types of matters:
- obtaining legal paternity determinations (IDHFS is able to assist in locating a parent who does not reside with the child(ren))
- obtaining an order providing for child support and health insurance for minor children
- seeking a modification of child support (by either parent) when legally warranted
- enforcing child support orders that are not being complied with (including child support set in a dissolution proceeding)
There are multiple ways to obtain child support services from IDHFS. The most effective way is to sign up for assistance at their website www2.illinois.gov/hfs/childsupport and click on the “Enroll Here” button. For anyone who does not have website access, IDHFS can be reached by phone at 1-800-447-4278 or through email at HFS.ARO@illinois.gov. If you are not able to contact IDHFS though the above means, you can visit the local IDHFS office at 2133 Belvidere Road, Waukegan, IL 60085, to pick up an application for services that can be completed and mailed in (the IDHFS Office is currently only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays).
Child support services are provided at no cost to the custodial parent and the program is open to all Lake County residents.
Illinois Child Support Services provides additional information, as does the U.S. Government in these videos:
- My ex-spouse will not comply with the custody/visitation order, what should I do?
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The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office does not represent parties in divorce or family cases and cannot provide you legal advice on this issue.
If you do not already have an attorney and are seeking assistance in locating one the Lake County Bar Association (LCBA) has a lawyer referral service that may be able to assist you in finding an attorney that practices in the area of family law . The LCBA can be reached at 847-244-3143. Or, if you would like to proceed with the issue on your own, you may find the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court’s Center for Self-Representation helpful. More information on the Center for Self-Representation can be found on the 19th Judicial Circuit Court's webpage. - My ex-spouse will not comply with the terms of the divorce order, what should I do?
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The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office does not represent parties in divorce or family cases and cannot provide you legal advice on this issue.
If you do not already have an attorney and are seeking assistance in locating one the Lake County Bar Association (LCBA) has a lawyer referral service that may be able to assist you in finding an attorney that practices in the area of family law . The LCBA can be reached at 847-244-3143. Or, if you would like to proceed with the issue on your own, you may find the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court’s Center for Self-Representation helpful. More information on the Center for Self-Representation can be found on the 19th Judicial Circuit Court's webpage. - What is the role of IDHS?
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- What is the role of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office?
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Please see the Role of the State's Attorney's Office webpage.
- Who collects the money owed and sends me a check?
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After an order of support has been entered, an order/notice to withhold income for child support will be served on the noncustodial parent’s (NCP’s) employer. The support will be taken out the NCP’s paycheck and forwarded to the Illinois State Disbursement Center in Carol Stream, Illinois. If the NCP does not receive a paycheck they will be required to send child support payments to the State Disbursement Center directly. The State Disbursement Center will disburse the money to the proper party. Child support must be paid through the State Disbursement Center and should not be sent directly to the custodial parent. The State’s Attorney’s Office is not involved with receiving of or distributing child support monies.
- What happens when payment is not being made?
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- What if I need to get my child support payment changed?
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