Ensure Fair Support for Your Child

Child support is one of the most important — and often most misunderstood — parts of a family law case. Whether you’re the parent paying or receiving support, it’s essential to ensure the amount is fair, accurately calculated, and complies with Illinois law.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Illinois?

Illinois uses an "income shares" model for calculating child support obligations. This method looks at:

  1. Both parents’ monthly net incomes

  2. The number of children involved

  3. Each parent’s percentage share of the combined income

  4. Parenting time allocation (i.e., how many nights per year each parent has with the child)

The base support obligation is determined using state guidelines. From there, adjustments may be made based on:

  • Health insurance costs

  • Childcare expenses

  • Extraordinary medical costs

  • School or extracurricular needs

  • Special needs of the child

Establishing, Modifying, and Enforcing Court Orders

Establishing Child Support Orders

Whether you're going through a divorce, a paternity case, or never lived with the other parent, child support can be established by:

  • Agreement between the parties (if approved by the court)

  • Order issued during a divorce or allocation of parental responsibilities case

  • An action brought by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS)

Modifying Child Support

Child support orders aren’t set in stone. You can request a modification if there has been a substantial change in circumstances, such as:

  • Significant change in income (job loss, promotion, disability)

  • Change in parenting time

  • New health insurance or medical needs

  • Changes in daycare or educational costs

  • One child becoming emancipated or aging out

Enforcing Child Support Orders

If you are owed unpaid support, you may be able to pursue enforcement through:

  • Wage garnishment

  • Tax refund interception

  • Driver’s license suspension

  • Court contempt proceedings

  • Liens on property or financial accounts

Common Child Support Disputes

Child support issues can arise in a variety of contexts, such as when:

  • The other parent is underreporting income

  • You’re paying too much based on old financial data

  • You're receiving too little while the other parent’s income has increased

  • The child has new medical, school, or travel expenses

  • The other parent refuses to share income or expense documentation

  • The Illinois Department of HFS is taking enforcement action

217 Law Attorneys

  • Courtney Anderson Headshot

    Courtney Anderson

    Courtney practices criminal defense, family law, and personal injury. Never shy of a difficult or high-profile case, she has won numerous awards for her advocacy, including recently being selected as a finalist for top lawyer in Macon County.

  • Fallon Connor Headshot

    Fallon Conner

    Fallon practices criminal defense and family law. As a former prosecutor, she has unique insight into the criminal justice system. She enjoys being in the courtroom and has a great track record of success in bench and jury trials.

  • Zach Anderson Headshot

    Zach Anderson

    Zach focuses on helping injured clients with workers compensation, personal injury, and products liability claims. He has successfully resolved multiple single-party injury cases for over $1 million, and has helped recover millions for users of bad products.

We want to work with you.

Phone:

217-217-0217

Address:

132 S. Water St., Suite 628. Decatur, IL 62523

Email:

info@217law.com

Where We Work:

We help clients throughout the 217 area code with injury claims and general civil litigation. We practice criminal defense and family law in Macon and surrounding counties.

3 people standing by 217 law hours: Courtney Anderson, Fallon Conner, and Corinne Likins
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