Child Support Attorney in Chicago
Insightful Counsel from Our Illinois Divorce Lawyers
When a family with children is involved in a divorce or parentage proceeding, the children are often a priority for both parents. For the court, the child’s best interests are the most important consideration, and ordering child support is one way that the State of Illinois ensures that the child is provided for. Because the court has the final say in child support matters, child support determinations are often a source of anxiety for parents.
At Kogut & Wilson, L.L.C., our team of legal advocates recognizes that, for many of our clients, their children are the most important consideration in their divorce or parentage proceeding. With this in mind, our team affords every case a diligent, thorough analysis of these matters to secure an appropriate child support determination. Our Chicago family law attorneys have handled hundreds of cases and know how to compellingly articulate the needs of a family to the court.
Ready to discuss your child custody concerns? Our advocates are ready to hear from you. Call us at (312) 565-4100 today.
Calculating Child Support
Much like in spousal support determinations, the courts now apply guidelines and formulas determine child support. However, the court has the authority to deviate from these measures when it feels it is necessary to serve the best interests of the child.
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act provides that the court shall compute the basic support obligations by taking the following steps:
- Determine each parent’s monthly net income
- Add the parent’s monthly net incomes together to determine the combined monthly net income of the parents
- Select the corresponding appropriate amount from the schedule of basic child support obligations based on the parties’ combined monthly net income and number of children of the parties
- Calculate each parent’s percentage share of the basic child support obligation
Note here that “net income” means the parent’s income after taxes have been removed. This new method for calculating child support can be summarized as an income shares approach. Essentially, this means the court will consider the income of both parents and each parent’s parenting time when determining which parent owes child support and the amount due.
Child support determinations are meant to serve families in the long-term, but it is possible to seek a modification of child support if the circumstances of the child or either parent has drastically changed. No matter what your child support concerns are, our firm is ready to listen and, if necessary, seek a legal remedy for you and your family.
Start exploring your options today. Request a consultation with a Chicago divorce attorney today!
