Illinois child support considers all sources of gross income of both parents, excluding benefits received from public assistance programs and payments for children in the household such as child support or survivor benefits.
Gross monthly incomes are then converted to net income and added together for a combined adjusted net income, which is used to determine the basic support obligation for one or more child.
See link “2024 Gross to Net Income Conversion Table“. Scroll down same page to see “APPENDIX B: UPDATED SCHEDULE OF BASIC OBLIGATIONS – Income Shares Schedule Based on Net Income”
On top of the general basic support obligation, other expenses such as child care or extracurricular activities are added to arrive at the total support obligation. The total cost of support is assigned to each parent as a percentage based on their contribution to the combined income.
An excellent resource to make heads or tails out of the Illinois child support calculation with a clear example can be found at the Illinois Legal Aid website . It is helpful to gain a general understanding of how Illinois child support is calculated before using an online calculator to get an estimate.
Parenting Time Adjusts Child Support Obligation
Of course, parenting time will impact the amount of the support obligation each parent pays. Child support for parents who share parenting time starts by finding the basic support obligation on the income shares schedule and increasing it by 150% (multiply by 1.5), adding in extra expenses, and applying the percentage each parent contributes in income. That figure will then be multiplied by the percentage of the year each parent spends with the child – a calculation explained in greater detail on the Illinois Legal Aid website linked above.
Contact an Experienced Family Law Attorney for Help
If you are considering divorce and have children, it is sometimes helpful to do a bit of research of your own regarding Illinois child support taking any questions you may have to your initial consultation with an experienced divorce lawyer who will provide important details regarding the overall divorce process when children are involved. A knowledgeable attorney can provide you with essential information regarding child support, child custody, marital property division, and spousal support – advising you on the best course of action in your case so that you can achieve the most favorable outcome. Contact the family law office of Ronald L. Bell & Associates P.C. to schedule an initial consultation at 847-495-6000.