Glendale Heights, IL Child Support Attorneys

Lawyers Helping Parents Address Financial Support for Children in Glendale Heights, Illinois

Raising a child comes with a long list of expenses, including regular daily costs and unexpected financial issues that may arise. When a child's parents no longer live together, they will both be expected to continue to contribute to those costs. Child support can make sure a child's needs will be met regardless of which parent the child lives with most of the time. For parents who are going through a divorce or addressing issues related to child custody, understanding how support is calculated and what it covers can ensure that the proper orders will be put in place.

At A. Traub & Associates, our attorneys help clients in Glendale Heights address issues related to child support. We can work with parents to calculate the correct amount of child support and establish orders that will provide for their children's needs. We can also provide guidance on how to enforce or modify child support orders when necessary. We will explain each step of the legal process clearly, ensuring that our clients understand their legal requirements and will be prepared to address any concerns they may encounter.

The Costs of Raising a Child

Housing, food, clothing, and school supplies are only the beginning of the expenses that parents will need to address as they provide for their children's needs. They will need to make sure children have health insurance coverage, and they may need to make arrangements for child care while they are working. The costs of extracurricular activities, tutoring, or transportation may also need to be addressed. When parents separate, they will need to determine how expenses will be divided so that they are each contributing to their children's needs.

Child support is meant to ensure that a child will receive the same level of support that would have been provided if their parents had continued living together. Child support orders will put regular payments in place to ensure that the ordinary costs of raising a child will be addressed, and certain additional expenses may also be added to an order when appropriate.

How Basic Child Support Obligations Are Determined

The basic amount of child support that is meant to address children's daily needs is determined by considering both parents' net incomes. The calculation generally follows these steps:

1. Each parent's monthly net income is determined, starting from the gross income they earn and subtracting standardized deductions for taxes. Other deductions may also be made, including child support paid for children from previous relationships.
2. The two net incomes are added together to reach a combined monthly figure. This amount will be used to determine a total monthly basic child support obligation, which is based on the amount that parents at that income level would usually spend to provide for a specific number of children.
3. Each parent's share of the basic child support obligation is calculated based on their percentage of the combined income.

A parent who earns a larger share of the household's combined income will generally be required to pay a larger share of the child support obligation. When parents share close to equal parenting time, a formula will be used to adjust child support calculations to reflect the expenses required in both households and the specific amount of time that children will live with each parent.

Additional Expenses That May Be Added to a Child Support Order

Basic child support is meant to cover everyday living expenses, but many families have costs that extend beyond those minimal amounts. Additional expenses may be addressed in child support orders, including:

• Health insurance premiums to provide coverage for children and other types of medical, dental, and vision expenses
• Child care costs for daycare, nannies, babysitters, or other forms of care provided while a parent is at work
• Extracurricular activity fees related to sports, music lessons, or any other activities
• Educational expenses, including private school tuition or tutoring costs

These additional expenses will typically be divided between parents proportionally based on the same income percentages used to calculate the basic child support obligation.

Addressing Non-Payment of Child Support

When a parent falls behind on child support payments, a family court may use several tools to help collect what is owed. In many cases, wage garnishment orders can be put in place to ensure that child support is deducted directly from a parent's wages. However, if additional steps may need to be taken to recover unpaid child support, a court may use methods such as:

• Contempt of court proceedings, which can result in fines or possible jail time when a parent has the ability to pay child support but refuses to do so
• Suspension of a parent's driver's license or professional license when
• Interception of state or federal tax refunds to apply toward unpaid support
• Reporting to credit agencies
• Liens on a parent's property or the seizure of funds in a bank account

Our attorneys can help clients determine what enforcement tools may be used when they have not received child support payments. We can take steps to obtain the amounts that are owed, along with interest, and we will work to ensure that ongoing payments will be made so that a child's needs will be met.

When Child Support Payments May Be Modified

Either parent may ask the court to modify child support when circumstances have changed. In some cases, a parent may ask for a reduction in child support payments because they are struggling to meet their obligations while also covering their own expenses. In others, a parent may ask for an increase in child support to ensure that they will be able to cover the costs of raising their child. Common reasons for modification requests include:

• A significant increase or decrease in either parent's income due to a job loss, a promotion, a career change, or a disability
• A change in the parenting time schedule that may result in a child spending more time with a parent
• A change in the child's needs, including new medical or educational expenses

To make a modification, a parent will need to file a petition with the court. Adjusting payments through informal agreements between parents could lead to legal complications, since an existing child support order may remain in place. Our lawyers can work with clients to determine whether changes in their lives will require modifications, and we can provide representation during legal proceedings and advocate for solutions that will meet the financial needs of children and parents.

Contact Our Glendale Heights Child Support Lawyers

Decisions about child support can affect a family's finances for years. Whether you need help establishing a fair child support order, collecting unpaid child support, or modifying the amount of child support, the lawyers at A. Traub & Associates can make sure you follow the right procedures. We will advocate for solutions that will protect your financial interests. Contact our Glendale Heights, IL child support agreement attorneys at 630-426-0196 to set up a consultation.