The Illinois child support system is specifically designed to help provide children with the financial assistance they need to thrive. While child support is a necessary part of ensuring the well-being of all children, the system does have its flaws. Sometimes, courts penalize parents for child support and demand amounts that parents cannot literally afford to pay each month.
Contesting the deadbeat parent response
When child support payments are discussed, you might hear the term “deadbeat parent” referring to a parent who does not pay child support. It’s common to believe that a parent is withholding payments just out of spite or neglect. However, parents who fail to pay their child support are often unable to afford the premiums that they’ve been assigned by the court.
A parent’s inability to pay their entire child support payment can be a result of many different reasons. For example, the parent may have lost their job or undergone a significant decrease in the number of hours that they can work. Other times, parents may already have children who live with them, and they simply don’t have enough money to support the children with them and issue child support payments for other children.
Start with asking for the re-examination of your child support order
Child support orders are established based on the financial situations of both parties at the time. However, each parent’s financial situation can change over the years. For this reason, it’s a good idea to ask to have your child support order re-examined. This holds especially true if you’ve undergone a change in your job or become disabled.
While child support is a necessity to ensure that children grow up healthy and happy, it can create a lot of confusion for both parents involved. While the court system tries to ensure that a feasible resolution is made for both parents, it doesn’t always work, or situations change. If you’ve found yourself unable to afford child support payments, it can be a good idea to speak to an attorney to understand what your options are.
