West Chicago Child Support Lawyers

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Experienced Attorneys Helping You Navigate Child Support Issues in West Chicago, IL

Raising children can be expensive, especially after a separation or divorce. With only one income, it can be challenging to provide your children with the food, housing, and clothing they need. Continuing the standard of living they were accustomed to while you and your ex were together may be impossible without financial assistance. Child support payments can supplement the income of the custodial parent, helping them provide for their children.

Although standard guidelines are used to determine child support obligations in Illinois, your specific case may present unique challenges. To ensure accuracy and that your rights are protected, you need an experienced attorney as your advocate. Goostree Law Group has assisted Illinois families with complex child support issues for over 20 years. With our thoroughness and attention to detail, we will address every factor that affects your child support case skillfully, always providing individualized solutions that reflect your situation, priorities, and goals.

Child Support Calculations in Illinois

The first step in determining child support obligations is to determine how much money will be needed to provide for your children's basic needs on a monthly basis. That figure is called the basic support obligation, and the state of Illinois provides tables that are used to determine the right figure based on the income earned by both parents.

Next, we will determine each parent's share of the basic child support obligation. Each parent is expected to pay a proportional amount based on the income they earn. For example, one parent may earn 65 percent of your combined income. That parent should provide for 65 percent of the children's financial needs.

Parenting time arrangements may also factor into child support calculations. The parent with primary physical custody will usually receive child support payments from the other. If your children will spend roughly the same amount of time with both parents, further calculations will likely need to be made to determine an appropriate way to share the basic child support obligation.

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The Costs of Raising a Child in West Chicago, Illinois

While food, clothing, and shelter will serve as your children's basic needs, many other expenses are likely to be involved in raising them. These may include:

Out-of-pocket healthcare costs, such as copays and insurance premiums
Significant fees and other expenses related to extracurricular activities
Childcare while one or both parents are working, such as the costs of daycare
Providing proper care for children with special needs
School supplies and other educational costs, such as private school tuition or college expenses

Some of these costs will need to be addressed in your child support order, and additional amounts may be added to the basic child support obligation to ensure that your children's needs will be met. To avoid future conflicts and misunderstandings, it is a good idea to discuss these issues and reach agreements on how specific expenses will be handled. We can help you decide what to include and how to approach these issues.

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Understanding Paternity Concerns in West Chicago Child Support Matters

Not all parents are married. When an unwed couple separates, the mother may want to ensure that her children's biological father will pay child support. A couple may voluntarily agree to recognize an unmarried parent as a child's legal father, or steps may need to be taken to establish paternity through the court. Keep in mind that paternity will also grant parental rights to the father, and he may ask the court to make decisions that will allow him to share in the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time.

In cases where paternity is uncertain, a father may need to take steps to establish a legal relationship with their child, or a man may try to show that he is not a child's biological father. Our attorneys can help ensure that issues related to paternity and child support will be handled correctly.

Addressing Complications in Your Illinois Child Support Matters

In some cases, a parent may try to quit their job or take a lower-paying position voluntarily, believing that these actions will reduce their child support obligations. We can help ensure that child support is established based on a parent's earning capacity so that the appropriate amount of support will be paid.

In cases where existing child support orders become outdated, a modification may be requested, or steps may be taken to enforce a parent's obligations toward their children. It is always best to handle these matters through the court rather than with informal agreements. We offer skilled guidance and advocacy to ensure that our clients' rights and best interests will be protected.

Contact Our West Chicago, IL Child Support Attorneys

Whether you are establishing a child support agreement for the first time, need to address paternity, or have encountered complications related to your existing court orders, you can rely on Goostree Law Group to stand firm as we advocate on your behalf. Request your complimentary case review today by calling 630-584-4800 or contacting us online.