Wheaton Child Support Lawyers

Attorneys for Child Support Issues Serving DuPage County

In divorce and family law cases where parents share children but have chosen to end their relationship, child support is likely to be an important issue to address. Children deserve to receive financial support that will ensure that their ongoing needs are met. Both parents will have the obligation to provide ongoing support, although in most cases, one parent will make payments to the other. Understanding how child support is addressed in these situations is crucial, and parents may need to take steps to ensure that they can provide for their children's needs while protecting their own financial interests.

The family law attorneys at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC understand the child support laws in Illinois. Whether you think you might be required to make child support payments, are concerned about temporary child support during your divorce, or expect to receive support payments, our lawyers can help ensure that all issues related to child support will be addressed correctly. Contact us at 630-665-7300 to get the legal help you need.

Illinois Child Support Laws

The purpose of child support is to ensure that children's needs will be met, and both parents are required to contribute financially to address the expenses of raising their children. The child support laws of Illinois take into account the child's needs and prioritize their best interests when determining child support payments. The parents' incomes, parenting time, and other factors are all taken into consideration when calculating child support amounts.

Under the state's "income shares" method, child support obligations are determined by taking the parents' combined income and the number of children they share to establish the amount that would typically be spent on providing for children's needs if the parents were still married or in a relationship. This amount is then divided between both parents according to their respective incomes. In some cases, adjustments may be made to each parent's obligations based on the amount of parenting time they will have with their children.

Child support orders may also address child-related expenses in addition to the basic child support obligations that are meant to address costs such as food, housing, and clothing. These expenses may include those that are related to health and medical care, and parents may divide the costs of health insurance coverage for children, as well as any other medical expenses. Each parent may also be required to contribute to child care expenses, such as the costs of placing children in daycare while parents are working. Educational expenses and costs related to extracurricular activities may also be addressed.

Special Accounting Skills

In some cases, forensic accountants are necessary to identify sources of income for the purposes of calculating support payments. This may be necessary in situations where one spouse is a sole proprietor or is otherwise self-employed and does not receive a W-2 form from an employer. One of our partners, George Frederick, has a degree in accounting and performs income-related investigative work for our law firm.

Child Support Modification

In some cases, changes may occur after a child support order is issued. Petitioning for a modification of a child support order is often necessary when parental circumstances change. For example, one party may obtain a higher-paying job, lose their job, become permanently disabled, or have another child. There are many reasons why child support orders may need modification. Our attorneys structure petitions for modification of child support orders to obtain the best possible outcome for our clients.

Contact Our Wheaton Child Support Attorneys

No two child support cases are the same, which is why it is essential to enlist the help of a child support attorney who understands the complexities of Illinois family law. An experienced child support lawyer can provide you with the legal advice you need to address child support issues effectively, and they can help you avoid costly mistakes. At Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC, we can represent your interests in court proceedings related to child support and ensure that your children's best interests are taken into account when establishing child support orders. Contact the knowledgeable and skilled child support lawyers at our firm by calling 630-665-7300.