Child Support

Effective October 1, 1999, federal legislation changed the way Child Support was handled in the State of Illinois. Most Illinois Child Support is now paid through the Illinois State Disbursement Unit (SDU). This change was designed to centralize the collection and distribution of Child Support. Circuit Clerks in Illinois still maintain the history of Child Support payments. They also continue to collect and disburse Child Support when there is not an Order for Income Withholding and the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services is not involved.

Illinois State Disbursement Unit (SDU)

According to Federal and State laws, all Child Support cases that have an Order for Income Withholding for Support and/or have received assistance from the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services must have their support payments go through the Illinois State Disbursement Unit. Due to the volume of checks processed by the SDU, you MUST follow the guidelines below to insure proper credit to your account:

  1. The SDU accepts personal checks, cashier’s checks, certified checks and money orders.
  2. Always include the name of the person responsible for making the Child Support payment and the court case number on your check.
  3. Always include the county name (McHENRY) and/or our county number (17111) on your check.
  4. Post-dated checks will not be accepted.

 

The Circuit Clerk’s Office will NOT accept payments that are to be made through the SDU. These payments must be mailed directly to the SDU. Mail your payment to the SDU at:

Illinois State Disbursement Unit
P.O. Box 5400
Carol Stream, IL 60197-5400

Any questions about possible missing payments or checks from the Illinois State Disbursement Unit should be directed to the SDU’s toll-free line (877) 225-7077. For more information on the State Disbursement Unit, see the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Service website.

The Illinois State Disbursement Unit (SDU) has implemented a toll-free customer service Automated Voice Response System (AVRS). The AVRS is available to answer your call in both English and Spanish, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The number to call to reach the AVRS is: 1-800-447-4278. You can also view SDU payment information online at www.ilsdu.com.

To access your specific case information, you will need your Social Security number and the date of birth of a child in the case. If you do not have an active child support case with the department and would like one, a customer service representative will be able to answer your questions and take your application. Please call 1-800-447-4278, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Fridays or 9 a.m. until noon on Saturdays (except state holidays).

$36 Annual Support Service Fee

The Circuit Clerk’s Office only processes Child Support payments that are directed by Court Order to go through the Circuit Clerk’s Office. These cases must have a Supplemental Support Order, but NOT have an Order for Income Withholding for Support. They also must NOT have any involvement with the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services. If the parties have received state assistance, and/or there is an Order for Income Withholding, these payments MUST be sent to the State Disbursement Unit.

If your Child Support is ordered through the Circuit Clerk’s Office, you should use the following guidelines for your payments:

  • Always include the name of the person responsible for making the payment and your court case number on the face of your check.
  • The Circuit Clerk’s office does NOT accept personal checks for Child Support payments.
  • Payment should be made with a money order, cashier’s check or certified check. Cash payment for Child
  • Support payable through the Circuit Clerk’s Office is accepted in Room 136 at the McHenry County Government Center.
  • Send your Child Support payment to:

McHenry County Circuit Clerk
Attention: Child Support
2200 N. Seminary Avenue
Woodstock, IL 60098-2637

Child Support Payable to the Circuit Court

The Circuit Clerk’s Office only processes Child Support payments that are directed by Court Order to go through the Circuit Clerk’s Office. These cases must have a Supplemental Support Order, but NOT have an Order for Income Withholding for Support. They also must NOT have any involvement with the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services. If the parties have received state assistance, and/or there is an Order for Income Withholding, these payments MUST be sent to the State Disbursement Unit.

If your Child Support is ordered through the Circuit Clerk, you should use the following guidelines for your payments:

  • Always include the name of the person responsible for making the payment and your court case number on the face of your check.
  • The Circuit Clerk does NOT accept personal checks for Child Support payments.
  • Payment should be made with a money order, cashier’s check or certified check.
  • Cash payment for Child Support payable through the Circuit Clerk is accepted in Room 136 at the Judicial Center.
  • Send your Child Support payment to:

                McHenry County Circuit Clerk
                Attention: Child Support
                2200 N. Seminary Avenue
                Woodstock, IL 60098-2637

Address Changes

It is the responsibility of the Child Support recipient to notify the Circuit Clerk of any change in your address. This notification must be made in writing on a Change of Address form, which can be printed below. The Circuit Clerk must be notified of your address change whether you receive your payments through the Illinois State Disbursement Unit (SDU) or through the Circuit Clerk’s Office. The Circuit Clerk will notify the SDU of your new address. If a Child Support recipient receives Public Aid, ONLY the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services can change the address to which your Child Support check is sent. Please notify the SDU of your new address either by calling (877)225-7077 to request an address change form or go to www.ilsdu.com.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Child Support Information Requests

The Circuit Clerk in each county is responsible for maintaining a history of the Child Support paid on each case in their county. The Circuit Clerk keeps a record of every payment made for Child Support. These records reflect both the date and the amount of the payment. This includes payments that are made to the State Disbursement Unit. A record of the Child Support you have received or paid can be obtained from the Circuit Clerk. There is a fee of $6.00 to print a Child Support History. Requests for a Child Support History report should be made in person in Room 136 on the first floor of the McHenry County Government Center. You may also mail a written request for your Child Support History. Mail a check for the $6.00 fee, a self-addressed, stamped envelope, along with your case number and the specific dates you would like included on the report to:

McHenry County Circuit Clerk
Attention: Child Support History Request
2200 N. Seminary Avenue
Woodstock, IL 60098-2637

Child Support Enforcement

The Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services offers free child support enforcement services to Illinois families. To get more information visit their website at www.childsupportillinois.com The McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office can represent residents of McHenry County to attempt to collect Child Support arrearages. There are specific guidelines that the State’s Attorney’s Office must follow before they can intervene in a case to attempt to collect Child Support. The three main guidelines are listed below:

  1. The person receiving the Child Support MUST live in McHenry County (If the person seeking the Child Support does NOT live in McHenry County, contact the State’s Attorney’s Office in your County of residence).
  2. The person paying the Child Support MUST live in the State of Illinois (If the person paying the Child Support lives in another state, contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for collection).
  3. The person receiving Child Support must NOT be receiving Public Aid or have received Public Aid in the past (If the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services is involved, contact the Illinois Attorney General’s Office for collection).

Office of the Illinois Attorney General
Northern Illinois Regional Office
Zeke Giorgi Center
200 South Wyman St., Suite 307
Rockford, IL 61101
(815) 967-3883

For more information on the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, go to https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/ If you meet the above guidelines for Child Support collection assistance from the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office, please call (815) 334-4027 for more information.