Lawyers.com offers general information and not legal advice. It is not possible to fully address your concern with more details. However, as a general rule, if there is an agreement--, in the absence of a court order incorporating the agreement into the order--- the agreement is enforceable as a contract. The benefit of having a court order is that you have greater protections in the event there is a breach in the agreement. If you have a signed agreement, I suggest that you take steps to reduce it to a court order, so you can fully protect your interest and that of your child. If you were never married, you will need to open a file with your local Juvenile & Domestic Relations Court. If you were married, you may have the option of going through the Circuit Court.
Moreover, to avoid problems with future payments, I suggest that you contact the Division of Child Support Enforcement ("DCSE") in your area to discuss having (DCSE) collect your payments and disburse them to you each month. Best of luck~
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