Child support is an important aspect of ensuring a child’s well-being. In Illinois, both parents must provide financial support for their child, whether they live together or apart.
State law considers several factors to figure out how much each parent should contribute. Understanding how this calculation works can bring peace of mind to parents as they go through this process.
Income consideration
The main consideration in determining child support is the current income of both parents. This includes salaries, wages, pensions, bonuses, commissions, and any other sources of income. Taxes and certain deductions are also taken into account during the assessment.
Percentage of income model
Illinois uses the Income Shares Model to calculate child support. This model considers income and the number of children each parent must support. The state offers a table outlining the percentage of combined net income that parents should allocate to support based on this information.
Additional expenses
In addition to basic child support, parents may also be responsible for covering other expenses such as healthcare, daycare and educational costs. These additional expenses are usually divided based on each parent’s percentage of the total income.
Parenting time allocation
The amount of time each parent spends with the child also factors into the calculation. If one parent spends a large portion of time with them, it can influence the amount of support they must provide.
By knowing how child support gets calculated, parents can better understand their financial responsibilities and work together to decide what is best for their child.
