Child Support

The Child Support Division of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office works with the Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services to provide child support services to all residents of Lake County.

The cases that the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office handles are initiated by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (IDHFS). The State’s Attorney’s Office receives referrals from IDHFS on the following types of matters:

• obtaining legal paternity determinations (IDHFS is able to assist in locating a parent who does not reside with the child(ren))
• obtaining an order providing for child support and health insurance for minor children
• seeking a modification of child support (by either parent) when legally warranted
• enforcing child support orders that are not being complied with (including child support set in a dissolution proceeding)

There are multiple ways to obtain child support services from IDHFS. The most effective way is to sign up for assistance at their website www2.illinois.gov/hfs/childsupport and click on the “Enroll Here” button. For anyone who does not have website access, IDHFS can be reached by phone at 1-800-447-4278 or through email at HFS.ARO@illinois.gov. If you are not able to contact IDHFS though the above means, you can visit the local IDHFS office at 2133 Belvidere Road, Waukegan, IL 60085, to pick up an application for services that can be completed and mailed in (the IDHFS Office is currently only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

Child support services are provided at no cost to the custodial parent and the program is open to all Lake County residents.