Barrington Child Support Lawyer

High-Quality Legal Services in Cook County

For most parents going through a divorce, the topic of what will happen to their children in the aftermath is rightly the most important question at hand. In some cases, however, being able to provide for one’s children becomes difficult to accomplish due to challenges with income or unforeseen circumstances. When this is the case, it becomes important to receive aid in the form of child support.

Understandably, the spouse who is obliged to pay extra child support might feel reluctant, but it is important for parents to remember that child support is neither a punishment nor a free ride. Instead, child support is always about caring for the children’s needs first. To ensure your entire family is taken care of, however, it is always crucial to have the counsel of our knowledgeable Barrington child support attorneys at Mandas Law.

Call us today at (847) 906-2555 to receive guidance from our skilled attorneys in understanding child support.

Child Support Calculation Guidelines

Since 2017, the state of Illinois has used a formula for calculating child support that is based on each parent's net income. The state believes that each parent is equally responsible for caring for their child (emotionally and financially) and uses this model as a way to ensure both parties are doing their part.

The child support calculator can be accessed by anyone who would like to understand how both party's income will be considered for support.

Aside from the calculator, there are a few factors based on the child's best interests the court also looks at to determine the child support amounts:

• The child's standard of living (if the parents remained together)
• The child's physical and emotional health
• The child's educational needs
• The financial resources of all parties involved

Additionally, the court may take these factors into consideration along with the parent's income levels to determine the payment amount. For example, if the child is enrolled in private school and the non-custodial parent makes more money than the custodial parent, they may be responsible for paying a greater share of the enrollment fee.

How Net Income Affects Child Support

The court not only looks at the wages of each parent when determining child support, they also look at the entire net income of each parent.

Net income commonly includes:

• Income Tax
• Social Security
• Retirement Funds
• Health Insurance Premiums
• Any Prior Child Support Obligations from Other Marriages
• Debt Obligations

These considerations are important because if one parent makes more basic income than the other, but has a larger net income, they could be responsible for contributing more money to supporting the child.

Child Support Modifications

It is legally possible to change a child support arrangement after the court has made an official ruling. This is called a modification and in order to succeed in this action, you must be able to prove you have had a significant change in circumstance that warrants this modification.

Common changes in circumstance include, but are not limited to:

• a substantial increase or decrease in income
• a serious injury that affects either party's ability to work
• changes to the child's daily life

Personable Counsel for Complex Cases in Cook, McHenry, DuPage, & Lake Counties

Here at Mandas Law, we are dedicated to helping our clients get child support arrangements that are fair for all the parties who are involved while making sure that the needs of children are placed as the highest priority, whether that involves litigation or mediation.. In complex cases involving unique child custody complications, whether arrangements for children with special needs or dealing with parents concealing their real source of income, we can help.

Contact us now so that our determined team of Barrington child support lawyers can help you today.