Can You Cancel Child Support Arrears for a Child Who Lived With You

When a child was eleven, his parents agreed that he should live with his father, but they never went back to court to change the custody and support order. Every time the father suggested that they modify the support order, the mother threatened to take the child back. Ten years later, the father's driver's license is suspended and he is told that he must pay ten years of child support arrears. Is there a way to cancel the arrears under Illinois law?

Unfortunately, the court will not retroactively modify the child support order. If the mother is not willing to waive the arrears (or if part or all of the arrears are owed to the state for public assistance received by the mother), the father will have to pay the money.