The Expedited Hearing Process offers:

• One central location
• Convenience
• Access to more services
• Faster support payments
• Fewer visits
• Fair hearings
• On-site paternity testing
• Children's health insurance coverage

Parents can go to one central location for the full range of child support services:

Expedited Child Support Center
32 West Randolph, 14th Floor
Chicago, Illinois 60601

The Center provides:

• Specially trained hearing officers who hear cases and work out recommended orders for child support.
• Judges who hear contested issues.
• On-site DNA testing.
• Employment assessment and referrals.
• Court facilitators to help reach visitation agreements.
• Referrals to the court's marriage and family counseling services.
• Play area for children.

The Expedited Child Support Program is a collaboration between the State of Illinois, Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Cook County State's Attorney and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

How the Expedited Hearing Process Works:

NOTICE

A notice telling you when your expedited hearing has been scheduled will be mailed from the State's Attorney's Office.

LOCATION

Go to the Expedited Child Support Program at 32 West Randolph, 14th Floor, Chicago and inform the receptionist that you have come for your scheduled hearing.

HEARINGS

When your name is called, you will be taken to your assigned hearing room by a staff person. The non-custodial parent should also attend, with or without an attorney.

HEARING OFFICER

Hearing officers are licensed attorneys with three or more years of legal experience. They have been trained for the Expedited Hearing Process to be fair to both parties in the hearing. The hearing officer will listen to all information and will prepare recommendations to a judge.

JUDGES

The hearing officer’s recommended order will go before a judge for review. Judges will also rule on cases in which the parties cannot agree. If necessary, your case may be scheduled for a court hearing. Usually, your hearing will be held the same day. Judges can also enter and enforce child support orders.

PATERNITY ESTABLISHMENT

A hearing officer is authorized to hear cases involving paternity. If paternity is contested, the hearing officer may recommend that DNA tests be taken that day. Bring the child or children for whom you are trying to establish paternity to the hearing. Then, if a DNA test is needed to prove who the father is, you may not have to make another trip.

DOCUMENTS

Bring Social Security numbers, birth certificates and pictures for yourself, for each child and for the alleged father.

DNA TEST

The tests are handled by trained laboratory technicians.

ACCESS AND VISITATION

The non-custodial parent's right to visit a child is a separate issue from child support. If a court order allows the non-custodial parent (NCP) visitation and the custodial parent does not allow it, the NCP may go to court and ask for enforcement of the visitation order.

Although an NCP may go to court in any county, the Division of Child Support Enforcement has contracted with the Domestic Relations Courts in Cook, DuPage and Peoria counties to implement an Access and Visitation Program to serve NCPs who never married. An NCP can request information about this program.by calling the Non-Custodial Parent Services Unit at
312-793-7987.

For general child support information or to apply for child support services, call the

Customer Service Call Center
1-800-447-4278

For information about the Expedited Hearing Process:

CALL:
Division of Child Support Enforcement
1-312-609-8780; (TTY) 1-312-917-1580

OR WRITE:
Expedited Hearing Process
Expedited Child Support Center
32 West Randolph, l4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60601

The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services provides child support services to parents who do not receive public assistance, as well as to parents who do receive public assistance.