Child Support

Child support is typically the most litigious issue that arises in a divorce and parentage matters. Michael Ian Bender helps clients establish fair child support arrangements, ensuring the child is provided for and protected. These arrangements extend to all facets of financial support, including college contribution, medical expenses, and more.

In large part, child support in Illinois is determined by the income level of the non-custodial parent and the number of children for which the parent is responsible. Statutory guidelines of what the non-custodial parent is ordered to contribute is as follows:

Number of Children

Percent of Non-Custodial Parent’s Net Income

1

20%

2

28%

3

32%

4

40%

5

45%

6 or more

50%

These guidelines are applicable for each case unless the court determines that a deviation is appropriate.  Factors for such deviations include but are not limited to:

– The financial resources and needs of the child(ren);
– The financial resources and needs of the custodial parent;
– Standard of living the child(ren) would have enjoyed had the marriage not been dissolved, the separation not occurred, or if the parties had married;
– The physical and emotional condition of the child(ren) and their educational needs; and
– The financial resources and needs of the non-custodial parent