Bolingbrook Child Support Lawyer

It’s not easy to raise children when you’re not getting the child support you need. Parents often worry about getting the money needed to pay for things like school supplies, clothes, or medical bills. The stress is magnified if every bit of your earnings and savings is going toward giving your children a good life. A Bolingbrook child support lawyer at Wolfe & Stec Ltd can help you get the financial support your children deserve.

If you’re trying to get child support for the first time, your ex has stopped paying, or your current support amount isn’t enough anymore, you might need legal help. Child support issues can feel overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. Our experienced lawyers will take you through the process, protect your rights, and fight for support that truly meets your children’s needs.

Every child deserves financial security and support from both parents for their basic needs and future opportunities. 

What Illinois Law Says About Child Support

What Child Support Really Means for Your Family

Child support pays for everything your children need to live well and grow up healthy, including:

• Daily meals and snacks
• A safe place to live
• Clothes that fit
• Doctor visits and medicine
• School supplies and opportunities to participate in activities.

Illinois has clear rules about child support. The courts look at how much both parents make and how much time they spend with the children. They use this information to set payment amounts that help children live as well as they would if their parents still lived together. Known as the income shares model,  this approach seeks fairness for everyone involved while putting children’s needs first.

Factors Considered in Child Support Calculations

Insights Into How Child Support Calculations in Illinois Are Performed

The courts look at many factors to set fair child support payments. Understanding these factors helps you know what to expect for your case.

Basic Living Expenses and Daily Needs

Your children need a stable home, regular meals, and proper clothing. The court considers basic living costs, including housing expenses like rent and utilities, daily needs like food and clothes, and routine costs like transportation and school supplies. These regular expenses form the foundation of child support calculations.

Income from Both Parents

Child support is meant to be fairly split, so courts look at both parent’s earnings, including regular paychecks, overtime, bonuses, and any money from investments or self-employment. Some types of support, like TANF benefits, food stamps, or child support for other children, don’t count toward this total.

Other Costs That Are Not Basic Needs

Other costs considered include things like childcare if you have to leave the child when you work, health insurance, or special medical care. There are also extra costs for education and activities. The court adds these special expenses to the basic support amount and divides them fairly between parents.

Time Spent with Each Parent

Your child custody arrangement also affects how much money you contribute. Courts look at the amount of time each parent spends with the kids, recognizing that the parent with more days could have higher expenses.

Changes to Child Support Orders

Life changes, and sometimes your child support order needs to change too. Maybe you lost your job, got a new one, or your children’s needs have grown. Illinois courts understand this and allow changes to child support orders in certain situations.

When Parents Can Ask for Changes

You can ask to change your support order if:

• It has been at least three years since your last order.
• One parent’s income has changed significantly.
• The cost of meeting the children’s needs has gone up.
• Healthcare costs have changed substantially.
• Parenting time arrangements have shifted.

Small changes in income usually aren’t enough for the court, but if something big has happened that affects your ability to pay for your children’s needs, the court will listen. We can help you gather this proof and present a strong case for modification.

How to Request Changes

You have several ways to ask for changes to your support order. You can:

• Work with the Illinois child support program.
• File a request through the courts yourself.
• Get help from a family law attorney.

However, just asking for a change doesn’t mean it will happen automatically. You’ll need to show proof of why the change is needed.

When things change, don’t be afraid to ask for modifications to your child support orders. Call Wolfe & Stec Ltd today at 630-305-0222 for a confidential consultation.

How Can Our Child Support Attorneys Help?

Our family law attorneys bring great experience to every child support case. We provide comprehensive assistance with:

Documentation and Calculations

We help you:

• Collect and submit thorough income documentation
• Show income from self-employment or contract-based business models
• Show your partner’s accurate income
• Determine what you are rightfully owed under Illinois laws.

We pay attention to details, ensuring nothing is overlooked in your support calculations.

Enforcement and Modifications

Our team assists with:

• Filing petitions for support modifications
• Enforcing existing child support orders
• Handling interstate child support matters
• Pursuing legal remedies for non-payment.

When support payments become an issue, we take swift action to protect your children’s financial security.

Parenting Time Considerations

We will help you with the following:

• Understanding how parenting time affects support calculations
• Ensuring fair allocation of expenses
• Addressing support implications of schedule changes
• Protecting your parental rights while securing appropriate support.

We help you balance parenting time and support obligations to create arrangements that work for your family.

Why Choose Us?

At Wolfe & Stec Ltd, we understand that every family’s situation is unique. Our child support attorneys take the time to:

• Listen carefully to your concerns and goals
• Explain your legal rights and options clearly
• Keep you informed throughout your case
• Advocate aggressively for your children’s interests
• Work to resolve disputes efficiently and cost-effectively
• Litigate when necessary to protect your rights.

We’ve helped hundreds of parents secure fair child support arrangements that provide for their children’s needs.

Child Support Enforcement Options

Taking Action When Payments Stop

When a parent fails to pay court-ordered child support, Illinois provides several enforcement mechanisms:

Taking Money Directly

The state has powerful tools to get you the money your children deserve. The state of Illinois can:

• Take support payments straight from the parent’s paycheck
• Take their tax refund money before they get it
• Put a hold on their house or car until they pay
• Take away their driver’s license or work license until they pay.

These methods help make sure your children get their support money even if the other parent tries to avoid paying.

Going to Court

If the other parent still won’t pay, a judge can take serious action:

• Make them explain to the court why they haven’t paid
• Order them to pay everything they owe plus extra costs
• Add interest charges to what they already owe
• Send them to jail if they’re choosing not to pay on purpose.

These tough consequences show that Illinois takes your children’s support seriously, and we’ll help you use every tool available to get the support they need.

FAQ

Common Concerns About Child Support in Illinois

Parents want to know several things going into child custody battles. Here are some common questions:

When does a parent’s child support obligation officially end?

Child support usually continues until your child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later. It won’t continue past age 19 unless your court order includes special circumstances, like support for a child with disabilities or specific agreements about college expenses.

What if the other parent moves to a different state?

Illinois can still help you collect child support if the other parent moves away. There are agreements between states that help enforce child support orders across state lines.

Can the court consider my new spouse’s income when setting child support?

No, the court looks only at the income of the child’s parents when calculating support. Your new spouse’s income won’t be counted in child support calculations.

What happens if I lose my job while paying child support?

There’s no need to panic. Reach out to a lawyer immediately to explore the chances of a modification. Many parents wait until they start to fall behind on payments, not knowing the court can adjust their payments based on their new financial situation. But note that the court can’t erase payments you’ve already missed.

Our experienced family law attorneys can answer all of your questions about child support and help you navigate the legal process effectively.

Get Help from a Skilled Bolingbrook Child Support Lawyer

Protecting Your Children’s Financial Future

It’s natural to worry about providing for your child after a divorce or separation from your partner. At Wolfe & Stec Ltd, we’re here to help you get the money your children need to thrive. We know how stressful it is when you’re not getting enough support to cover your children’s needs. Our lawyers will stand by your side and work hard to get your children the financial support they deserve.

Take the first step toward financial security for your children. Call Wolfe & Stec Ltd at 630-305-0222 to schedule your consultation with a Bolingbrook child support lawyer.