Single parents in Illinois may be surprised to learn that non-custodial mothers are less likely to meet legally mandated child support obligations than non-custodial fathers are. This information comes from one writer’s analysis of data that was gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Apparently, based on numbers from 2011, 32 percent of fathers who were given custody of their children did not receive any child support payments to which they were entitled. However, only 25.1 percent of custodial mothers did not receive the payments. Furthermore, the average amount of support that mothers are entitled to receive is around $4,800 a year, but each receives an average of 52 percent of that amount per year. Custodial fathers are only supposed to receive an average of $4,160 but only collect about 40 percent of that.
While these figures may cast non-custodial mothers in a negative light compared to non-custodial fathers, the writer suggests that examining the relative incomes of the payors and payees suggests that custodial fathers do have some advantages over custodial mothers. The data shows that the average father who does not receive child support has an income of almost $10,000 more than a father who does not receive the payments. However, custodial mothers who do not receive the support have an average income of $4,132 less than mothers who are given the money.
These figures suggest that child support has the ability to affect a family’s annual income, which means that enforcing a standing agreement might be important to many single parents. While going through legal channels when pursuing mandated payments, it might be helpful for a custodial parent to seek guidance from a family law attorney. That attorney could provide assist with gathering the necessary documentation and might provide representation during court hearings.
