Child Support:
Calculating, Modifying, and Enforcing

Courts make the support of the minor children a priority and most often follow the minimum support guidelines provided in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

When setting support, the court will consider the financial resources of both parents. The financial disclosure forms provide the court, attorneys, and parties a complete snapshot of each household’s income and expenses when setting support.
 
Temporary support can be set by the court at the beginning of the case even if the parties have not reached an agreement regarding custody or parenting time.
 
Mostly due to changes in income, child support is an aspect of divorce and paternity cases that changes over time and often becomes an area of contention.  If the parents’ financial resources have changed since the setting of the prior child support order, either party may petition the court to ask for a modification.
 
A parent who is experiencing problems obtaining child support payments in a timely fashion can request that the court enter a Uniform Order for Support.  The order requires the non-custodial parent’s employer to deduct the child support directly from the parent’s check and the employer will send the funds directly to the custodial parent or the Illinois State Disbursement Unit.
 
If the non-custodial parent is behind in support payments, the court can find that party in contempt of court and order the arrearage be paid.
 
In paternity cases, the parents are often dealing with child support orders entered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services: Division of Child Support Enforcement.  The Family Law Office of Amy E. Richards will work with you to ensure that the minor children are getting the maximum support allowed and that the obligor (parent making child support payments) is receiving all deductions and credits.
 
The courts have the power to order a parent to either carry medical insurance for the children or to contribute to the children’s medical premiums.
 
The courts can also order each parent to contribute towards the payments of extracurricular expenses, child care expenses, uninsured medical expenses, and college expenses.
 
Contact the Family Law Office of Amy E. Richards to discuss all of your child support needs.