When Does Child Support End in Illinois?

Divorce
Involving Children

A divorce involving children tend to be more complex as the divorce will affect many aspects of the children’s lives. To make the transition as least disruptive as possible, parents must make decisions about how the children will be raised, where they will reside, and how must time each parent spends with the children. Discussing these issues can be an emotionally charged time for divorcing parents and finding amicable parenting solutions isn’t always easy.

One of the biggest components of a
divorce involving children is the need for child support. In Illinois, both
parents are required to support their children. There are guidelines in place
for calculating the amount of support a child is entitled to receive. However,
parents retain the ability to make alternative agreements regarding child
support as long as the needs of the children are met. In the end, the primary
role of child support is to facilitate and promote the well-being of the
children.

Calculating
Child Support in Illinois

Child support is paid to the residential
parent to assist with the child(ren)’s expenses including, but not limited to,
household expenses, food, clothing, housing, transportation costs, educational
costs, and medical care costs.

When calculating how much child support one parent pays to the other, Illinois has certain guidelines to follow. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services provides detailed guidelines and worksheets that can help to divorce parents to determine the amount of child support required.

In Illinois, the determination of how much child support is owed is based on an “income share” model. This model factors in the net income of both parents and the number of overnights the child(ren) have with each parent.

The Illinois courts will apply these
guidelines unless the parents agree to a different amount that meets the needs
of the child(ren) or it finds the application of the guidelines to be
inappropriate. To determine if the guidelines are inappropriate, the court
considers:

• The financial resources and needs of the child;
• The financial resources and needs of the
  parents;
• The standard of living the child would have
  enjoyed had the marriage or civil union not been dissolved;
• The educational needs of the child(ren); and
• The physical and emotional condition of the
  child(ren)

When Does a Parent’s Obligation to
Pay Child Support End?

Once child support is calculated, the
parent required to pay child support continues to pay until one of the
following occurs:

• The child turns 18 years old;
• If the child does not graduate high school until
  after attaining the age of 18, then the earlier of the date on which the child graduates
  high school or turns 19 years old;
• Emancipation of the child;
• Child gets married;

It is important to note that there are
circumstances that will continue a parent’s obligation to support their
child(ren). If the child has a mental or physical disability, a parent may be
required to help pay for disability-related expenses beyond the child’s 18^th
birthday. Further, if a child goes to college or a trade school, a parent may
be requested to help with college expenses including, but not limited to,
tuition, room and board, and books.

These are just some of the common circumstances that could arise and affect the termination of child support. Receiving adequate support for your child(ren) is crucial to providing the best care and environment for your children after a divorce.  As such, it is important to speak with experienced and skilled Barrington family law attorney that will be on your side from the start and help guide you through the complex process of divorce. Contact a Barrington family law attorney immediately if you have any questions.

Contact a Trusted Child Support
Attorney for Help Today

Child support is a necessary part of the divorce process when a child is involved. The process of calculating child support and determining when it terminates is difficult and complex without the help of an experienced and skilled Barrington family law attorney who deals extensively with divorce, parenting time, parental rights, and child support.

To learn more, call Manassa Law P.C.,
P.C. at (866) 390-0672 or fill out our confidential
contact form for a free consultation with one of our experience and
compassionate Barrington
divorce lawyers. We are proud to serve clients at our North Barrington, Waukegan, and Hinsdale offices. Call today!