The fee shall be payable semi-annually, being due with the support payment due on or next immediately following January 1 and July 1. The fee shall be payable in advance as herein provided, except for the initial payment which shall be paid at the time of the initial child support payment to the clerk. The amount of the fee due for the initial period shall be computed from the date the support order first takes effect to the next January 1 or July 1, whichever occurs first.
Unless paid in cash, the payment of the fee shall be by a separate instrument from the support payment and shall be made to the order of the clerk.
750 ILCS 5/711