How to Get Child Support if You Are an Unmarried Mother

 Posted on August 16,2022 in Child Support

Single moms must contend with many financial challenges. Child-related expenses such as childcare, healthcare, and educational costs can quickly add up. Record-high inflation only adds to the financial difficulties faced by parents in Illinois and across the country.

If you are an unmarried mother, you may be interested in securing child support payments from the child’s father. Child support can help you with everything from housing costs to groceries, but you will need to take certain steps to establish a child support order and receive payments.

Establishing Paternity is the First Step

Before you can get an official child support order, you must ensure that the father’s paternity is established. Paternity is the legal relationship between a man and his child. When married parents have a baby, Illinois automatically assumes paternity. However, if an unmarried couple has a baby, paternity must be established through one of several legal avenues. The easiest way to establish paternity is through a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity document. However, if the father is unwilling to sign this form, you may need to pursue an Order of Paternity through the court system or an Administrative Paternity Order through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). DNA testing may be needed to confirm that the presumed father is the child’s biological father in some cases.

Getting an Official Child Support Order

Once a father’s paternity is confirmed, the mother can pursue child support through a judicial or administrative action. Both parents will be asked to provide financial information, which is used to determine how much a parent pays in child support. A detailed child support calculation process is used to find a child support payment amount that is reasonable and appropriate given the parents’ financial circumstances. Courts may deviate from the typical child support calculation method if needed.

Contact Our Rolling Meadows Child Support Lawyer for Help

In Illinois, both of a child’s parents are expected to contribute to their child’s financial needs, even if they are unmarried. However, parents must take certain steps to establish child support and begin receiving payments.

If you are a single mother and you want to set up child support or you need to enforce an existing child support order, Law Offices of Donald J. Cosley can help. Arlington Heights child support attorney Donald J. Cosley has practiced law for almost 30 years. He knows the difficulties and complexities surrounding paternity and child support matters and can provide the legal assistance you need. Call 847-253-3100 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www2.illinois.gov/hfs/ChildSupport/FormsBrochures/Pages/hfs3282.aspx