Child support can be difficult to negotiate for parents who are no longer in a relationship. Even after a child support plan is put in place, the parent who is responsible for paying child support may purposely or accidentally halt payments. Regardless of the reason for stopping child support payments, the receiving parent and child(ren) are put in a difficult situation when they cannot get the financial support they need. If the paying parent has stopped making payments, you have options to get the child support you need.

Work Directly With the Paying Parent

Try to work things out with the delinquent co-parent. Do not seek to withhold parenting time from the spouse who is delinquent on payments, or otherwise seek revenge. Even if there is an enforceable court order, co-parents may be able to work something out together. If it does come to a court battle, do not jeopardize your case by neglecting your responsibilities under the child visitation order.

Work with the Illinois Division of Child Support Services (DCSS)

You may also notify the Illinois Division of Child Support Services (DCSS). After you notify DCSS of the delinquent payments, DCSS will begin to oversee the situation and verify that the payments are late. Be aware that before DCSS can take any action regarding the delinquent child support, they are obligated to notify the non-compliant parent and warn them about the consequences of nonpayment. 

Parental financial support doesn’t necessarily end when a child turns 18. Although college may not be an option every child pursues, if a child does decide to go to college, divorced and unmarried parents could be responsible under Illinois law for sharing the expense of their child’s continued education. This is considered “non-minor support,” and the law in this regard is complex and less developed than child support for minor children. Typically, college expenses are addressed in a divorce agreement (or parenting agreement, for non-married parents), but as the expenses and expectations of college change rapidly, such an agreement is often left until the child reaches college age.

Considerations in an Order for College-Related Expenses

Here are some of the factors a court will take into account when deciding how parents should contribute to a child’s educational expenses:

• Pre-college expenses - Parents are responsible for covering the cost of applying to up to five colleges and up to two standardized college entrance exams like the ACT or the SAT. Parents may even be required to pay for a college exam preparatory course.

When going through a divorce, you may not have future consequences at the top of your list of priorities. Many people either forget about the long-term consequences of divorce or ignore them. Either way, not considering the long-term impact of your decisions can cause more stress in the long run. The downfall for many people going through a divorce occurs during the asset division process. You may be focused on your assets and fighting to get what you believe you deserve in the moment, but it is also necessary to understand the long-term effects of your decisions, including the implications for your taxes after divorce.

Things to Keep in Mind About Taxes During Divorce

When it comes to dividing your property and debts, taxes should also be a part of the equation. Even if tax issues are not an immediate concern, they can impact your overall financial health in the long run. When you go through the asset division process, here are a few things you should take into consideration concerning your tax situation:

• Your tax filing status will likely change. Most married couples file joint tax returns, but once you are divorced, you will no longer be “married filing jointly,” but rather, “single.” This can change the amount of tax that you owe come tax time, depending on your income.

When you are going through a divorce, it can feel like the list of things you have to do is neverending. There are dozens of issues that must be addressed before you can finalize your divorce, and resolving them often takes some time. The day you are finally able to sign your name on the dotted line is the day that you can officially say you are divorced—a sigh of relief for many. But what happens when you suddenly remember something that was left out of the divorce agreement? Can you go back and amend your agreement, even if it has already been finalized? It can be difficult to amend a divorce agreement, but it is not impossible with the help of a knowledgeable Illinois divorce lawyer.

Modifying Your Divorce Settlement Through Agreement

The court will not allow certain major issues to go unresolved before a divorce is finalized. These issues include the division of marital property, orders for child support and spousal support, and the allocation of parenting time and parental responsibilities. However, there may be smaller details that slip through the cracks, perhaps regarding the specifics of your parenting plan. The easiest and most peaceful way to address these issues is to discuss them with your ex-spouse so you can come to an agreement. Just like during the divorce process, coming to a mutual agreement can be much more efficient than fighting a contested battle in court and leaving the decision up to the judge.

Modifying Your Divorce Settlement With a Court Order

If urgent issues arise after your divorce that you were not aware of during the divorce process, perhaps related to your former spouse’s dishonest or dangerous behavior, agreeing on modifications peacefully will likely not be possible. In this case, you will likely have to get the courts involved. However, you cannot just modify your divorce settlement for any reason; it has to be significant enough to warrant a change. For example, if your spouse concealed information about their assets or did something to endanger your children, it is important to address these issues as soon as possible.

Your marital status does not directly affect your credit score. However, that does not mean that it cannot affect it indirectly. It is not uncommon for a person to notice a difference in their credit score during and after a divorce because of all of the financial changes that this process brings. Having a decent credit score is important for a variety of reasons. Your credit score is how lenders determine whether or not they will do business with you. If your credit score takes a hit, you could have difficulty purchasing a vehicle or home, renting a place to live, or opening any other type of line of credit. Protecting your credit score should be a priority at any time, but especially during your divorce.

Steps to Take to Protect Your Credit

If you are planning to file for divorce, it is important that you pay attention to your finances. Your entire life is changing, and it is easy for something to slip through the cracks and harm your credit score. Here are a few things you can do to help protect your credit score during your divorce:

• Obtain a copy of your credit report. First, you should order copies of your credit report from all three credit-reporting bureaus. This will allow you to see exactly which accounts are linked to your credit file. Make note of all of the joint accounts that you and your spouse have. Look for any discrepancies on your credit report, such as incorrect, incomplete, or missing information.