Your Child Support Attorneys In Lake County
Child support is calculated using a set of guidelines mandated by state statute. Generally, the guidelines take into account both parents’ income, how many overnights are spent at each parent’s house and other factors.
However, the formula isn’t an exact science. A parent could be unemployed or underemployed. Income might fluctuate wildly. A parent might be self-employed and hide income.
If you are the paying parent, even if you are more than willing to provide for your children, it is important to be protected against overreaching. You must ensure that all of the factors under the law are considered when the child support figure is calculated so that your ability to provide for your day-to-day needs is not unnecessarily compromised.
If such problems arise, it is vital to have an experienced attorney by your side. We have more than 35 combined years of experience as family law trial attorneys. We work to resolve divorce and family law issues every day for people in Bannockburn, Libertyville and all of Lake County, Illinois.
Contact us online today at 847-908-3955 to schedule a free initial consultation.
Child Support Issues? Talk To Our Child Support Modification Lawyers.
Even though child support is paid from one parent to the other, child support is intended to provide for the needs of children. It is important that the obligation to pay child support be established with care, and it is equally important that this same care be taken when child support payments are modified.
If you believe your support payments require modification, contact us right away. No matter what reasons exist to increase or decrease the payments, if there is no request before the court to modify child support, with notice of your request issued to the other parent, the payments are “locked in” and cannot be changed in the future. This can result in receiving too little child support or accruing substantial arrearages for nonpayment, even if you cannot pay.
There are several reasons to modify, appeal or enforce support payments such as:
- Job loss or change
- Refusal to pay
- Income change
- Changes to parenting plan or custody
- Changes to children’s needs
We can often find reasonable resolutions to your child support issues, but we are also able to fight for your best interests if necessary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support In Illinois
Our attorneys will strive to answer any questions you may have about child support during your consultation. In the meantime, here are the answers to some common concerns:
What happens if child support payments are not made?
Failing to pay child support can lead to serious repercussions, such as wage garnishment, loss of tax refunds, the suspension of your driver’s license, recreational licenses and professional licenses, liens against your property and even jail time. Parents who are facing difficulties making child support payments should reach out to our experienced attorneys to explore their options for a modification of support.
What resources are available for low-income families dealing with child support issues in Illinois?
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS), Division of Child Support Services, will help families who receive Medicaid, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and other public benefits establish child support obligations, ask for modifications in support and assist with collection efforts.
What expenses does child support cover in Illinois?
Regular child support payments are used to cover a child’s basic needs. This includes such things as:
- Rent and utilities for the child’s dwelling
- Groceries, clothing and other necessary items
- Child care and extracurricular activities
- Health insurance, out-of-pocket medical expenses and deductibles
- School programs and other educational expenses and supplies
- Travel costs during visitation
This is not an all-inclusive list, and there may be additional expenses, particularly if a child has special needs. It is important to understand that the recipient parent has the discretion to use child support payments as they see fit, so long as the child’s needs are being met.
What happens if the other parent refuses to pay child support?
Deliberate refusal to pay child support is treated very harshly by the courts. If a noncustodial parent refuses to pay child support, the custodial parent can take legal action to enforce payments. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services’ Division of Child Support Services (DCSS) can use various means to collect unpaid child support. Some of the options the DCSS may use to collect child support include:
- Withholding income
- Wage garnishment
- Tax refund interception
- Posting a bond
- Seizure of assets
The noncustodial parent may also face various penalties for not paying child support, such as losing their driver’s license, professional license or passport or facing criminal charges, fines and incarceration.
Contact Douglas Law, A Professional Corporation
Contact us online today for a free initial consultation to discuss your child support payments and parental rights in Illinois. Call our law firm at 847-908-3955.