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What To Know About Child Support In Illinois

Child support shouldn’t be controversial, but it is often a heated issue. This is likely because it involves financial ties between two people who had previously worked to separate themselves from one another.

At Neubauer, Johnston & Hudson, P.C., we understand that children are the ultimate beneficiaries of child support, which is why it is so important to set aside differences and focus on their well-being. Whether you are likely to pay child support or receive it, our attorneys will guide you through the process and help ensure that child support awards are reasonable and sustainable.

How Child Support Determined?

In 2017, Illinois enacted a new child support law that changed the way support amounts are calculated. The old model relied primarily on the income of the parent who was ordered to pay. The new model considers the net income of both parents and compares them to the overall financial needs of the children.

Because of this, child support payments won’t always align perfectly with the allocation of parenting time. If the parent who has custody of the children most of the time also has a higher income, they will receive a smaller share of child support from the paying parent than they otherwise would.

The other change to note is that child support amounts are tied to overnights with the kids. If both parents have the child or children at least 146 nights of the year, they are considered to be in an “equal parenting” arrangement. As such, child support payments would be significantly reduced. According to the law, it is overnights that count when determining this formula, regardless of who they are with during the day.

Here’s How Our Firm Can Help

Whether you will be paying or receiving child support, it is critical that the payment amounts are both sustainable for parents and reflective of the needs of the children. Our attorneys will work with you to ensure that the court has the most accurate and relevant financial information when calculating child support.

We can also help you seek modifications to court orders (when warranted) or help you petition the court to enforce existing orders. If your ex-spouse is not paying child support, for instance, you are not allowed to withhold court-ordered parenting time in retaliation (or vice versa). But with the assistance of our attorneys, you can seek to hold your co-parent in contempt of court for violating the order.

Free Consultations Available – Reach Out Today

Neubauer, Johnston & Hudson, P.C., has office in Fairview Heights, Illinois, and we serve clients throughout St. Clair and Madison counties. We are local attorneys living in the communities we serve. To get answers to your child support questions or to discuss your options with us, contact us to set up a free initial consultation. Just call 618-632-5588 or send us an email.