Child Support Payments Hampered by Economic Downturn

By Sheryl Rentz on June 3, 2009

The slowing economy and weak job market is having an adverse effect on child support, Illinois officials are finding out. According to this news report in the Chicago Tribune, a lot of parents are asking for a break because they have lost their jobs or have some other economic hardship. The Illinois Division of Child Support is apparently seeing a slowdown in collections and an increase in support paid out of unemployment benefits. This trend is understandably putting a strain on custodial parents who depend on that child support check to keep their households running. Illinois law requires parents who don’t have custody to pay between 20 and 50 percent of his or her income, depending on the number of children involved.

Pennsylvania has very strict laws that make penalties for those who don’t pay child support extremely severe. Any amount owed in back payments is known as “arrearages.” The parent who fails to make those payments can face harsh penalties including jail time, driver’s license and passport suspension, bank account seizure, reporting of failure to pay to credit agencies and seizure of certain incomes and properties.

Whether you are a parent who wants to collect child support or a parent who is seeking assistance to make these payments, the Law Office of Sheryl R. Rentz can help you. Please contact us for a free and comprehensive consultation to learn more information about your legal rights and options. We can help you recover your legally entitled child support, help couples who are worried about making a child support contract, or even help parents who have not paid child support for some time. Call experienced Philadelphia child support attorney Sheryl R. Rentz today at 610-645-0100 for a free consultation.