As outlined by Illinois Child Support Services, the number of children as well as the non-custodial parent’s net income will play a role in determining how much a custodial parent will receive in child support. To ascertain someone’s net income, the court will deduct certain qualifying items from the person’s income, such as taxes, Social Security, health insurance and certain debts.
To further determine child support payments, the court will take into account circumstances that will ensure that the best interests of the child are met. That could include factoring in how much money the custodial parent makes and other financial resources available to children. Courts will also take a look at the specific financial needs a child has, which will entail educational costs and ensuring the child is able to enjoy the same standard of living.
Illinois has child support guidelines in place that require that the payment structure adheres to the following minimums:
- For one child, the non-custodial parent pays 20 percent of income in support
- For two, it is 28 percent
- For three, it is 32 percent
- For four, it is 40 percent
- For five, it is 45 percent
- For six or more, the minimum requirement is half the non-custodial parent’s income
According to the Illinois Attorney General, there were nearly 500,000 child support cases in the state in 2013. People who need to apply for support can contact the state’s Child Support Services, which can help establish paternity, obtain an order for payments and enforce the order. An attorney can also ensure that the custodial parent is receiving the compensation to which they are entitled.
While this information may be useful, it should not be interpreted as legal advice.
