Child Support Obligations Lawyers
When parents decide to divorce, they will often have trouble financially as they adjust to living in separate households and supporting themselves on a single income. However, no matter what decisions are made regarding the allocation of parental responsibility and parenting time, both parents are obligated to financially support their children. In order to ensure that children's needs are being met, it is important to follow the guidelines of Illinois law in determining the amount of parents' child support payments.
At Capraro Law, we have more than 20 plus years of experience assisting parents in divorce cases, and we understand the complexities of Illinois' divorce laws. With our help, you can ensure that your children will receive the child support that will provide for their needs.
Child Support Guidelines in Illinois
Until recently, child support in Illinois was determined by calculating a percentage of the paying parent's income. Since this method no longer reflects the reality of most modern families, in which both parents often earn an income and play a significant role in raising their children, the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act was recently updated, and the guidelines for determining child support obligations were completely redefined.
Under the new guidelines, a child support obligation will be determined based on parents' combined net income, with this obligation representing the amount that parents would have spent to care for their children if they had remained married. Each parent will be assigned a percentage of the obligation based on the percentage share which they contribute to the combined income. The paying parent will pay their portion of the obligation to the other parent, and it is presumed that the receiving parent's portion of the obligation will be directly used to care for their children.
Cases in which children spend near-equal amounts of time with each parent are becoming more and more common, and Illinois' updated child support guidelines have addressed this type of situation. When children stay overnight with each parent at least 40% of the time (146 days each year), this is considered Shared Physical Care, and additional calculations will be made to adjust each parent's portion of the child support obligation based on the specific percentage of overnight stays they enjoy with their children.
In addition to the child support obligations described above, parents may also be required to contribute to children's health care costs, child care expenses, and/or the costs of extracurricular activities. These costs will be divided between the parents based on each parent's percentage share of their combined income.
Child Support Advocates -- Capraro Law
If you want to make sure your children will have the financial support they need following your divorce, the knowledgeable, experienced attorneys at Capraro Law can ensure that Illinois' child support guidelines are followed correctly when calculating your child support obligations. We can help you correctly determine your and your ex-spouse's net income and take any additional expenses or relevant factors into account, working to protect your family's financial security.
Call Capraro Law Today For An Appointment @ 708.383.6551
1010 Lake St. #612
Oak Park, IL. 60301
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