The divorce process is an emotionally trying time, but the months after a divorce can also come with challenges. For custodial parents, adjusting to a life of raising their child on their own can be a difficult transition. The financial challenges that custodial parents face are well documented, further showcasing the importance of child support. Unfortunately, many parents do not receive their child support payments in full and struggle to provide for their children. If your former spouse is failing to make their child support payments in full or on time, it is time to seek out the assistance of a knowledgeable attorney.

Securing Your Child Support Payments

According to the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately 13.7 million single custodial parents living throughout the United States, with over half of them having some form of child support agreement with a former spouse. Unfortunately, less than half of all custodial parents with a child support agreement, receive their payments in whole. Child support can be invaluable for parents that need financial support to provide for their family, and if you are not receiving the child support you deserve, it is time to act.

After a divorce is finalized, most parties feel a certain level of relief. Officially starting a new life independent of your partner is the start of something new but it can come with some unforeseen challenges. In many cases, a recently divorced person will be mandated to pay child support to their former spouse. If one is unable to consistently make their payments in full and on time, they could face serious consequences. If you are unable or unwilling to pay your child support payments, it may be time to look into modifying the payment plan. For more information on what steps to take to modify your child support payment plan, speak with a knowledgeable legal professional today.

How to Modify Your Child Support Payment Plan

If you are unable to pay your child support, it is time to act. Not only can an inability to make payments result in potential garnishment of wages, one can potentially face the loss of driving privileges, significant fines, and even possible jail time. Recognizing this, you need to contact a legal professional as soon as you recognize that you are unable to make your payments.

As a couple navigates the divorce process, it is entirely common for both parties to be concerned about a number of issues. How will marital assets be divided between the spouses? How will parental responsibilities be allocated? Will I be able to secure a healthy financial future for my family? If you have been named the primary parent, after your divorce, the financial toll of raising your children on your own can be incredibly challenging. Because of this, it is critically important to establish a child support payment plan with your former spouse. When it comes to issues of child support, it is crucial to hire an attorney you can believe in.

How Are Payments Calculated?

Here in the state of Illinois, child support payment amounts are calculated through a number of factors. The first component that will be considered, is the gross income of both parents. The gross income calculation will include any court-ordered spousal maintenance from either a current or former spouse. The court will then combine the net income of both parents, and estimate the amount of money usually spent on a child, on a monthly basis. This calculation includes the cost of groceries, school tuition, and medical expenses, and is known as the basic support obligation. If the child lives with a primary parent, the other parent will likely be asked to pay half of all basic support obligations.

Every year, thousands of American couples elect to separate and file for divorce. While the divorce process can be a painful transition, a divorce can lead to much-needed independence, a newly invigorated lifestyle, and another chance at finding love. When children are involved, divorce can come with complications. Despite the misconception that a child is better off in a household with two parents, even if the relationship is unhealthy, it is never healthy for a child to experience a marital relationship that is no longer functioning.

If your relationship with your spouse is no longer healthy, it is incredibly likely that you are no longer operating as a healthy parenting team. All that said, life as a sole-custodial parent can be highly stressful. Nothing causes single parents as much stress as questions of financial security. If you believe you are entitled to child support payments from your former spouse, it is time to contact a quality legal team.

The amount of money a non-custodial parent is required to pay for their minor child is called child support. Child support calculations in Illinois are based on both parents’ incomes as well as their parenting time and parental responsibility.

Although child support payments typically end when a child turns 18 or 19 and has graduated from high school, there are some situations where a parent may be required to provide their child with financial support beyond age 18 or 19. These situations include: