In Illinois, the State has an interest in making sure children’s financial needs are being met. For children who have unmarried parents, one way the State ensures this is through child support. Many parents find themselves paying child support for a long time as they are required to pay it until the child turns 18 in most cases. Over the course of a child’s life, circumstances change though and some parents find it difficult to pay the court ordered child support. In response many parents simply stop paying it and find themselves in arrears.