Warrenville Child Support Lawyers

Attorneys Helping Parents Address Child Support Obligations in Warrenville, IL

When parents separate or divorce, they will need to take steps to ensure that their children will continue to receive the financial support they need. Child support orders may be established during family law cases, and these orders are meant to provide children with stability and make sure their needs will be met. Child support issues may need to be addressed during divorce proceedings, child custody disputes, paternity cases, or other family law cases, and the decisions made can help ensure that their best interests will be protected.

The attorneys at Goostree Law Group help parents in Warrenville understand their rights and responsibilities regarding their children. We work to ensure that support orders are fair and enforceable. Whether you are seeking to establish a new child support order, modify an existing one, or enforce payment from the other parent, we will work to make the legal process more efficient and less stressful.

Understanding Parents' Child Support Obligations

Under Illinois law, both of a child's parents will have a legal obligation to support the child financially. The parent who has the majority of parenting time is typically the recipient of child support paid by the other parent. Guidelines detailed in Illinois law are used to determine the amount of child support. Factors considered in these calculations include both parents' incomes, the number of children, and, in some cases, each parent's amount of parenting time.

Additional Child-Related Expenses

While the child support obligations calculated using the state's guidelines are meant to provide for basic needs such as food and clothing, parents may also need to address other expenses that must be paid as they raise their children together. These may include:

• Health Insurance: Parents will typically be required to divide the costs of providing medical, dental, and vision insurance for the child.
• Uncovered Medical Expenses: Parents may need to address co-pays, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs that are not covered by insurance.
• Childcare Costs: If one or both parents require childcare so that they can work or attend school, these costs will usually be divided proportionally between the parents.
• Educational Expenses: Costs for school fees, supplies, tutoring, or educational activities may be addressed in a child support order.
• Extracurricular Activities: Costs associated with sports, music lessons, clubs, and similar activities may be addressed. Each parent may be required to contribute toward these expenses.

When determining child support obligations, the court will typically require both parents to submit detailed financial affidavits, tax returns, and pay stubs so that the amount of support can be calculated correctly. Our attorneys can help ensure that all relevant expenses are considered and that the final child support order will meet children's needs while protecting our client's financial interests.

Call 630-584-4800 and let us help your family.

Modifying Child Support Orders

Child support obligations may need to be adjusted based on changes in the lives of parents or children. If a family's circumstances change significantly, either parent may petition the court for a modification of their child support order. Potential reasons for modification requests may include:

• Changes in Income: A substantial increase or decrease in either parent's earnings may affect the amount that should be paid.
• Changes in Parenting Time: If the parenting schedule shifts significantly, this could have an impact on child support obligations. For example, if children had previously lived with one parent most of the time but will begin dividing their time equally between their parents' homes, additional calculations may need to be made to address these new circumstances
• Changes in the Child's Needs: As children grow, they may develop new medical, educational, or extracurricular needs. Child support orders may need to be adjusted to ensure that both parents are contributing toward these expenses.

To modify a child support order, a parent must provide evidence that there has been a substantial change in circumstances. Our lawyers can help prepare and present the necessary evidence to support a modification request, and we will work to find solutions that will ensure that the child's needs will continue to be met.

Enforcing Child Support

Unfortunately, unpaid child support is a common issue in many family law cases. When a parent fails to comply with their court-ordered child support obligations, the other parent may take steps to enforce the court's orders. Several methods may be used to enforce child support orders and collect the amounts owed, including:

• Income Withholding: Support payments can be automatically deducted from the paying parent's wages.
• Intercepting Tax Refunds: Past-due support can be collected from a parent's state or federal tax refunds.
• Liens on Property or Bank Accounts: If a parent owns property or has assets, liens may be placed on their property to recover unpaid support.
• Contempt of Court Proceedings: A non-paying parent can be brought before a judge, and they may face penalties such as fines or jail time for willful non-compliance.
• Driver's License Suspension: The state may suspend the driver's license of a parent who is delinquent in paying child support.

Our attorneys can assist with enforcement actions, making sure the proper legal steps are taken to ensure that the support owed to a child can be collected. We can also provide representation for parents who have been unable to pay child support, working to set up payment plans or requesting modifications that will reflect their current financial circumstances.