When parents choose to end their relationship through a divorce or a legal separation, a child support Court Order will often need to be obtained to ensure that children’s financial needs are being met. In Illinois, the law provides clear guidelines on how child support will be calculated. However, these guidelines provide for what is known as a “basic child support obligation,” and additional expenses may also need to be addressed.
An experienced family law attorney can provide a parent with the necessary information about how an appropriate amount of child support will be determined, while also offering legal expertise to ensure that divorce and family law topics will be handled correctly.
What Does Basic Child Support Cover?
In Illinois, the basic child support obligation is designed to cover the essential needs of the child. This obligation is calculated based on the incomes of both parents and the number of children being supported. In cases involving “shared parenting,” when children will have near-equal amounts of time with each parent, the specific division of parenting time may also be factored into these calculations.