EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: GAMBLING WINNINGS MAY BE SEIZED FOR PAST-DUE CHILD SUPPORT

 Posted on August 19, 2013 in Child Support

If you owe or are owed past-due child support in Illinois, Governor Quinn has just signed a new bill to help collect on the debt.

Illinois has now joined several other states that permit gambling winnings to be seized for unpaid child support owed by the gambler. All large winnings which qualify to be reported to the IRS can now be seized.

Here is how it works: A parent who owes child support wins big at the casino or the race track. The winnings are turned over to the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. From there, the money is distributed to parents who are owed support.

This new law is effective immediately. So if the other parent of your children is a gambler, he/she could be gambling on their future without even knowing it. It's estimated up to $1 million in child support money could be brought in during the first year.

A qualified family law attorney is crucial if you are unable to pay child support, or if you are owed child support. Contact us today in DuPage County.