Chicago Child Support Lawyer

Illinois courts prefer both parents to be involved in a child's life unless abuse or other dangerous conditions are present. Since raising a child comes at a cost, however, courts mandate child support to help cover the child's basic needs, such as:

Food
Clothing
Shelter
Medical care and healthcare
Education

Depending on the child custody arrangements, one or both parents may be required to pay child support. The state finds it necessary for both parents to support their child financially, so accordingly, a family court judge may require each parent to pay a certain amount of child support each month depending on several factors, which we discuss below.

Illinois Child Support Calculator

Illinois uses an Income Share Model to determine how much child support must be paid, therefore, both parents' incomes and the amount of overnight parenting time spent with the child, among other factors, are considered to calculate basic child support. This model holds both parents accountable for supporting their child, so the Illinois child support calculator considers several factors to determine the basic amount owed each month.

Click here to visit the Illinois child support estimator. Keep in mind that the amount you see from the estimator may not accurately reflect the actual amount of child support you owe, as it is merely an estimate, so your attorney can help you get clarity on the precise amount. With this in mind, the following questions appear on the state's child support estimator, so be sure to refer to your court and financial documents to input the correct information:

What is the number of children for whom support is being estimated?
Do you have the majority of parenting time?
How many overnights do you exercise with these children annually?
Please select your income type. (select from standardized or individualized)
Please select the other parent's income type. (select from standardized or individualized)
Do you receive spousal maintenance?
Does the other parent receive spousal maintenance?
Do you pay spousal maintenance?
Does the other parent pay spousal maintenance?
Are the children receiving a Social Security Dependent Benefit Allotment paid on the behalf of a retired or disabled parent?
Do you pay child support, pursuant to a court or administrative order, for children not included in this estimate?
Does the other parent pay child support, pursuant to a court or administrative order, for children not included in this estimate?
Do you have additional children for whom you are legally responsible, who are not included in this estimate, and for whom there is not an order for support?
Does the other parent have additional children for whom he/she is legally responsible, who are not included in this estimate, and for whom there is not an order for support?
Who is providing health insurance coverage for the children in this estimate?
Do you pay childcare expenses for the children included in this estimate?
Does the other parent pay childcare expenses for the children included in this estimate?
Do you pay extraordinary school and/or extracurricular expenses for the children in this estimate?
Does the other parent pay extraordinary school and/or extracurricular expenses for the children in this estimate?

Questions About Child Support?

If you have questions regarding your child support arrangements, such as modifying your current amount or enforcing overdue child support, get the clarity you need from an experienced Chicago child support attorney. I, Attorney Mitch Furman, understand that calculating and enforcing child support obligations can be a confusing and burdensome process, so I hope to take some weight off your shoulders when you contact my office at (312) 236-7078!