Child support payments represent a significant expense for the parent who pays the higher amount of court ordered child support payments.
Illinois child support is calculated using a method that takes into account both parents income and the amount of parenting time each spends with a child, however, sometimes one parent will initially pay more child support because:
- They are higher earner at the time of the divorce, sometimes because the other parent has been out of the job market during the marriage.
- There are very young children involved and the other parent has primary caretaker responsibilities, which limits earning capacity.
- They are awarded less parenting time.
Just because one parent pays more initially does not mean that the child support obligation will remain the same over the months and years to come. Financial circumstances and/or parenting time arrangements can change and a modification may be in order to decrease or increase payments.
If your (or an ex-spouse’s) financial situation has changed considerably, or if there is a change in the parenting time arrangement, it is helpful to work with an experienced family law attorney to determine if a modification to the child support order is possible. Contact the Lake county family law offices of Ronald L Bell & Associates PC for immediate assistance at 847-495-6000.