Do you need a lawyer to collect unpaid child support?
If it becomes necessary to ask a judge to hold the other parent in contempt for failure to pay child support, you may benefit from representation from an experienced divorce attorney. You will need to file a Petition for a Rule to Show Cause with the court. The parent who failed to pay child support will have to show the court that they had good reason not to pay (such as job loss).
If there has been a history of non-payment, the judge may order the other parent to pay a specific amount by a certain date, as well as interest on the arrears. (Interest accrues at 9% on child support payments more than 30 days overdue.) If he or she fails to comply, the judge may order jail time.
At Beermann LLP in Chicago and North Shore, we focus our practice exclusively on divorce and family law. Our team of attorneys is at the top of their field and known for achieving top-notch results.