How Child Support Is Calculated in Illinois

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Child Support

Even though there has been a rise in alternative forms of co-parenting after a divorce, couples typically live in two different residences after they become divorced. Most of the time, children of divorced couples travel between the two parents’ houses according to the parenting time agreed upon by the couple. Illinois recognizes that the presence of both parents in a child’s life is important, which is why more and more couples are receiving equal or nearly equal parenting time. If one spouse has more parenting time than the other spouse, then the spouse with a lesser amount of parenting time will typically be responsible for making child support payments to the other spouse.

Calculating Basic Support Obligations

The first step to calculating child support payments is finding each parent’s monthly gross income. Once the monthly gross income is figured, then the Gross to Net Income Conversion Table is used to figure out each parent’s monthly net income. Then, both parents’ monthly net incomes are added together and the corresponding value is taken from the Income Shares Schedule. The amount from the table is the basic amount of money that should be spent on the child each month for living expenses, food, clothing, and other basic needs.

Determining Which Parent Pays What

Next, you must determine how much of the monthly basic support payment each parent is responsible for providing. To do this, you calculate the percentage of each parents’ contribution to the household’s combined net monthly income. For example, if a parent’s income accounts for 54 percent of the household’s combined net monthly income, then that parent will be responsible for providing 54 percent of the monthly basic child support obligation.

Example

Rachel and Jeff are getting a divorce and they have four children together. It has been determined that Rachel will have all of the children for a majority of the time. Rachel’s gross monthly income is $3,400 and Jeff’s gross monthly income is $5,600. This means Rachel’s net monthly income is $2,711 and Jeff’s net monthly income is $4,164, making the combined net monthly income $6,875. According to the Income Shares Schedule, Rachel and Jeff’s obligation to their children is $2,247 each month. Since Rachel is responsible for 39.4 percent of the obligation and Jeff is responsible for 60.6 percent and Jeff is responsible for paying child support, Jeff will be required to pay $1,361.68 each month.

Call a Skilled DuPage County Child Support Attorney

Many times, families rely on child support payments to help take care of children after they are divorced. If you are wondering if you will receive child support payments, you should contact a knowledgeable Aurora, IL child support lawyer to help you hash out the details. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we can help you make sure your children are receiving the support they deserve. Call our office today at 630-409-8184 to set up a consultation.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59

https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/SiteCollectionDocuments/IncomeSharesScheduleBasedonNetIncome.pdf

https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/SiteCollectionDocuments/GrosstoNetIncomeConversionTableUsingStandardizedTaxAmounts.pdf