What are the different ways that I can get child support?
As a custodial parent, you may get a child support order in four ways: • You may be able to get free legal aid based on your income. Go to the “Helpful Organizations” section towards the bottom of the page to find a legal aid organization that may be able to help you; • You can go to court “pro se” to get a child support order on your own; • You can hire a private attorney; or • You may get free services from the IV-D agency of the Illinois Department of Healtcare & Family Services. The IV-D Agency of the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services is also called Child Support Enforcement. This agency does not represent you in getting child support. Instead they represent the State of Illinois and their only goal is making sure that children are adequately supported. Each way of getting child support has its own advantages and disadvantages. You should make a decision by looking at a number of factors, such as: • Your financial resources; • The history of your relationship with
