On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in Child Support on Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
The terms for child support payments do not necessarily have to be determined after a contentious court battle. Private negotiations between the parents or more formal proceedings such as mediation might enable Illinois parents who are ending their marriae to focus on the financial needs of the family and reach an agreement.
Although private negotiations are informal in nature, each party may want to have an attorney present during discussions. Alternatively, a parent could take a draft of the terms to an attorney for legal review before making a final commitment.
If the parents require a more formal setting for discussions, they might engage in mediation or pursue a collaborative legal approach. These alternative dispute resolution methods strive to reduce tension and steer conversations toward meeting needs instead of rehashing old arguments.
Parents who take either path should ideally produce a written agreement. Generally, a court will need to review the document and then issue an official order. As long as the agreement does not violate state law, a judge will likely approve it.
An agreement made formal through a court order provides a parent with the legal ability to pursue missed payments from the noncustodial parent. A person who needs advice about child support enforcement could reach out to an attorney for assistance. Initially, an attorney might contact the non-paying parent and remind the person of the legal obligation to pay. Otherwise, an attorney could prepare the court paperwork to pursue legal action such as requesting a wage garnishment or a bank account levy.
