Villa Park Child Support Lawyers

Attorneys Working to Establish or Modify Child Support Orders in Villa Park, IL

During a divorce or in another situation where parents are not living together, parents will not only need to make decisions about child custody, but they will also need to address financial issues related to their children. Both parents are required to contribute to the ongoing costs of raising their children, and child support payments can ensure that these contributions will go toward meeting children's needs. By understanding how child support works, including how it is calculated, what it covers, and how it can be adjusted when necessary, a parent can take steps to provide for their children while protecting their own financial stability.

At A. Traub & Associates, our lawyers assist parents on both sides of child support matters. We represent mothers and fathers who need to put child support orders in place in divorce or family law cases. We can also work with parents to modify existing orders or ensure that child support is paid correctly. We provide guidance on the steps our clients can take to address their children's ongoing needs and resolve any disputes that may arise.

The Importance of Child Support

Children will have a variety of ongoing financial needs. The costs involved in raising children will need to be addressed after parents separate. Support payments made from one parent to the other may cover expenses related to housing, food, clothing, healthcare, education, and more.

Child support is not a punishment for a person who is required to make payments, and it is not a financial reward for the parent who receives support. The purpose of a child support order is to make sure that a child will receive the same level of support that they would have had if their parents were living together. When establishing child support orders, courts will focus on what a child needs and how much each parent is able to contribute.

What Child Support Covers

Child support may address a variety of expenses involved in raising a child. These costs fall into two broad categories: basic expenses that are calculated using guidelines defined in Illinois law, and additional expenses that may be addressed separately.

Basic Living Expenses

The amount of child support that is calculated based on the income earned by both parents is intended to cover the ordinary costs of raising a child. These include housing costs such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and household supplies. Child support may be used to cover groceries, clothing, personal care items, transportation, and other everyday expenses.

Childcare Expenses

When a parent requires childcare while they are working or attending school, the costs involved may serve as an additional expense that will need to be divided between the parents. These costs may cover daycare, babysitting, or after-school programs that will ensure that a parent can maintain employment.

Medical and Healthcare Costs

Illinois child support orders will typically require parents to maintain health insurance coverage for children. One parent may include a child on their employer-sponsored health plan, and the costs of that coverage may be factored into child support calculations. Other medical expenses, such as copayments, deductibles, dental care, vision care, orthodontic treatment, therapy, and prescriptions, may also be divided between parents. Our attorneys can help clients ensure that support orders address both insurance coverage and out-of-pocket medical costs.

Educational Expenses

The costs of children's education may include private school tuition, school supplies and fees, tutoring, and standardized test preparation. A child support order may detail how these costs will be shared by parents. College expenses may also need to be addressed, and courts may order parents to contribute to tuition, room and board, and other costs associated with higher education.

Extracurricular Activities

Children may participate in sports, arts programs, music lessons, summer camps, and other extracurricular activities. These activities can be an important part of a child's development, and the costs involved may need to be addressed. A child support order may require parents to divide the costs of these activities, although a cap may be placed on the total amount that a parent may be required to pay each year.

Modifying Child Support

A family's financial circumstances may change over time, and child support orders may need to be adjusted to reflect these changes. Either parent may request a modification of child support payments to ensure that the amount paid is based on the current circumstances of parents or children.

In general, a change in circumstances must be substantial before child support can be modified. Common reasons for modification requests include an increase or decrease in either parent's income, the loss of a job, a disability that affects a parent's employment, or a change in the child's needs. Child support may also be adjusted if parenting time is modified in a way that will result in children spending more time with one parent than they had previously.

Until modifications are put in place by a family court, a child support order will remain in place. A parent will be required to continue paying child support as ordered. However, modifications may be retroactive to the date that a modification request was filed. Because of this, a parent may need to file a modification request quickly after the loss of a job or another situation that may affect their ability to pay child support.

Contact Our Villa Park, Illinois Child Support Lawyers

Child support can help protect a child's financial security and make sure their needs will be met. At A. Traub & Associates, our lawyers help parents ensure that the correct factors are considered when creating child support orders. We can address child-related expenses or college expenses to ensure that children will have the necessary support. We can also determine when modifications may be made, and we can help to enforce child support orders in situations where a parent has not made the required payments. To learn more about how we can help with these issues, contact our Villa Park child support attorneys at 630-426-0196 and arrange a consultation.