Dedicated Child Support Attorneys Protecting Families in Wheaton, IL
Whether it is in the context of a divorce or not, child support is a highly contested issue that many parents face. At Musielak & Rosinski LLC, our Wheaton, Illinois child support lawyers provide representation to married and unmarried parents who are seeking to establish the correct amount of child support for their children. These cases can be highly sensitive, so we listen to each client's circumstances before deciding on the best approach.
Calculating Child Support Obligations in Illinois
Child support is calculated using a formula defined in Illinois law. This formula determines the amount of ongoing support required to care for a child based on the parents' combined income. That is, the court will determine the amount that parents would typically have spent to address their children's ongoing needs if they were married or living together. That amount will be divided between the parents based on their respective incomes. In some cases, the parents' respective amounts of parenting time may also be factored into these calculations.
The calculation of child support obligations can be complex, especially for high-income families. In addition to the incomes earned by parents, other factors may also need to be considered, such as various expenses involved in raising children and other obligations that may apply for either parent. Our firm can take the time to explain how Illinois child support laws will affect you and the factors that will determine the amount of support you pay or receive. We will work with you to address any concerns you may have about providing for your children's needs, and we will help you put solutions in place that will protect your children's best interests.
Altering Child Support Orders and Child Support Enforcement
In some cases, it may be necessary to make modifications to a child support order because circumstances have substantially changed. A significant change in circumstances can include a considerable increase or decrease in wages, the loss of a job, or changes to a child's needs. A lawyer at our firm can assist you in dealing with all aspects of child support modification, and we can also help you understand your options for enforcement of child support orders so that you can collect any amounts due to you.
Do You Need to Establish Legal Parentage Before Getting Child Support?
Legal parentage must be established before a court can order child support. Support obligations are tied to a legally recognized parent-child relationship, so a father cannot be held responsible for paying support, and a mother cannot formally seek it from him, until parentage has been confirmed either voluntarily or through a court proceeding.
For married couples, the law presumes that a husband is the legal father of a child born during the marriage, so parentage is typically already established without additional steps. Unmarried parents usually need to sign a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Parentage or pursue a parentage action through the court, which could include genetic testing.
Once parentage is legally established, either parent can request a child support order based on Illinois's income shares model, which considers both parents' combined income and the needs of the child. Delaying this step can also delay access to support, so parents seeking financial assistance for a child should address parentage as soon as possible rather than waiting until other issues, such as custody, come up in the case.
Contact a DuPage County Child Support Lawyer
We have helped many clients located in DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, and Kendall County with child support matters. Get in touch with a DuPage County divorce and child support attorney at Musielak & Rosinski LLC by contacting us through this website or calling our office at 630-344-6525. Let us help you address your child support issues as efficiently and effectively as possible.