As any parent can confirm, children are expensive. In fact, it is estimated that the average cost of raising a child to adulthood is over a quarter of a million dollars. For parents who are not married, managing child-related costs can be a considerable challenge.
If you are getting divorced or you are an unmarried parent, you may have questions about child support. You may wonder how child support payments are determined in Illinois or what you can do if you disagree with the amount of child support you have been asked to contribute.
Child Support Calculation Method
Illinois uses a system called “Income Shares” to determine a fair and reasonable allocation of financial support. First, each parent’s net income is determined. This is the parent’s income after taxes, prior child support or spousal support obligations, and other deductions. The parents’ net incomes are added to find their combined net income. This number is compared to an “Income Shares Schedule” to determine the “basic support obligation.” The basic support obligation is the amount of money that both parents are expected to contribute to the child’s needs. Finally, the basic support obligation is allocated to the parents in proportion to each parent’s share of the combined net income. So, the greater a parent’s income in relation to the combined net income, the greater his or her contribution.
The parent with the majority of the “parenting time” or time spent caring for the child, contributes his or her share of the basic support obligation by directly providing for the child’s needs. The parent with less parenting time provides his or her share of the basic support obligation through child support payments.
If the parents both have the child 40 percent or more of the time, this is a “shared parenting” arrangement and child support is adjusted accordingly.
Contact a McHenry County Child Support Lawyer
Child support payments in Illinois are intended to be reasonably affordable while still providing for the child’s financial needs. However, calculating an appropriate child support payment amount can be much more complicated than it initially seems.
If you are a parent who needs to establish child support, modify child support, or you have other child support questions and concerns, contact Botto Gilbert Lancaster, PC for help. Our Crystal Lake family law attorneys can help you understand your rights and options under Illinois law and assist you in taking the appropriate action for your situation. Call 815-338-3838 for a free, confidential consultation.
Sources:
https://spendmenot.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-raise-a-child/