If you are a parent, you may be wondering how is child support calculated in Illinois. Whether you are a custodial or non-custodial parent, understanding the child support process will help ensure that your children receive the financial assistance they need. Let’s determine the answer to the question, “How is child support calculated in Illinois?“
Income Shares Model
The State of Illinois uses what is known as an “income shares model” to determine child support obligations. This method considers both parents’ income and estimates how much it would cost for each parent to provide for their children if they were still living together.
The model then requires that each parent pay their fair share of those costs, with non-custodial parents paying more than custodial parents because they aren’t providing day-to-day care for their children.
Calculating Child Support
When calculating child support, several factors are taken into consideration, including each parent’s total gross income, any spousal maintenance payments being made or received, tax deductions, childcare expenses, uninsured medical expenses, and other potential sources of income such as Social Security benefits or investments.
The court may also consider other factors, such as one parent having primary physical custody of multiple children and special needs or disabilities that affect either parent’s ability to pay for expenses or the child’s minimal standard of living.
Once all these factors have been considered, a judge will determine how much each parent should contribute to cover their respective shares of the costs associated with raising the child or children in question.
Modifications
Of course, life doesn’t always stay the same; circumstances can change over time which necessitates modifications to existing child support orders. If either parent experiences a significant change in their income, such as getting laid off from work, they can request that the court review their current order and make adjustments accordingly.
It’s important to note that these modifications must be approved by a judge before they can take effect; simply not making payments without first obtaining approval could result in legal consequences such as wage garnishment or even jail time if payments are not made on time and in full.
