Aurora Child Support Lawyer

Going through a divorce is always complicated, but it can be significantly more so if there are children involved. Having kids in the picture means child custody arrangements and, importantly, child support calculations. Whether you’re worried about the arrangements that have already been made or you’ve discovered that your ex-spouse isn’t paying their court-ordered share, it’s critical to have an Aurora child support lawyer by your side.

The accomplished team of family law attorneys at Wolfe & Stec understands the challenges you may be facing if you’re in the midst of a divorce or have separated from your spouse. We can guide you through this difficult time in your life, calling on our years of dedicated experience and unmatched understanding of Colorado family law.

Call us at 630-305-0222 today to schedule a consultation with a trustworthy child support lawyer in Aurora.

Why Choose Us?

Bringing Compassionate Representation to Complex Cases

Our family law attorneys have decades of combined legal experience, which they wield to help clients who are struggling with everything from divorce and child custody disputes to estate planning considerations. We’ve tackled countless complex cases in Illinois, allowing people to move on with their lives after difficult separations and other family concerns.

When you work with Wolfe & Stec, you’ll never be treated like just another case. We take the time to get to know our clients so we can provide the personalized attention they need to resolve their unique legal issues.

When dealing with family law matters, creative thinking is essential, which is why we make it an area of focus. We’re ready to think outside the box to help you come to an arrangement that’s suitable for you and your loved ones.

Understanding Child Support in Illinois

In Illinois, as in the rest of the country, both parents are responsible for ensuring their child’s well-being. That’s generally not an issue when the couple is married, but if they’re separated or divorced, problems can arise where one parent may not provide the financial assistance their child needs.

A parent’s legal obligation doesn’t end just because they’re no longer living with the child. That’s where the concept of child support comes into play.

Child support refers to a sum of money that a non-custodial parent pays to the custodial parent on a monthly basis. This support is meant to go toward feeding and clothing the child, as well as paying medical expenses and other costs of child-rearing.

How Is Child Support Calculated?

Illinois relies on an income shares model to calculate child support amounts. The court considers the combined income of both parents to come up with a number that will maintain a standard of living for the child that’s as close as possible to what it was when the parents lived together.

The court will first look at the number of children the parents have, as this will directly impact how much support is needed. The more children there are, the higher the percentage of the non-custodial parent’s income that will go toward payments.

The courts also assess parenting time. The custodial parent will have more expenses than the non-custodial one, so the latter will typically need to pay more. If the separation involves shared custody, the court will look at other factors to make an equitable decision on the amount.

Child support amounts can also hinge on whether the child has special needs or requires ongoing medical care of any kind. If your child does, you can expect the support amount to be higher to accommodate those needs.

Requesting Child Support Modifications

One reason you may need a child support lawyer in Illinois is to make modifications to your existing arrangement. Child support may be something that you or your spouse will need to pay for years, depending on your child’s age. There could be numerous changes to your circumstances and financial means during that time.

The courts have the authority to modify child support arrangements. However, they typically do so only if one parent:

• Has another child
• Suffers a severe injury and becomes disabled
• Loses or gets a new job
• Acquires an inheritance
• Experiences a significant change in income.

To begin the process of obtaining a modification, you’ll need to file a request. It’s always a good idea to do this with the assistance of a qualified attorney.

We know how to present the evidence needed to demonstrate a meaningful change in your circumstances. Legal representation is particularly important if you have numerous child support orders or owe outstanding child support.

Taking Action Against Missed Child Support Payments

Child support orders must be paid on time every month. If the other parent fails to do so consistently and there have been no efforts to pay outstanding support, it may be necessary to take action.

Illinois’ Division of Child Support Services (DCSS), which is part of the state’s Department of Healthcare and Family Services, is in charge of addressing missed child support payments. While the agency is tasked with enforcing the court’s orders, it’s frequently overwhelmed with requests, which means it can take a long time to get the assistance you need.

By hiring a child support lawyer, you can take action against the other parent right away. Your legal professional can petition the court for assistance. The court will hold hearings and assess the case before getting involved in helping you obtain back payments.

One of the things the court can do is to withhold from the non-custodial parent’s income. This means that the other parent’s employer will take some of the wages from their paycheck and automatically send them to the custodial parent.

Another option is tax refund interception. Parents who are delinquent in their child support payments can have their state or federal tax refunds intercepted and given over to the custodial parent.

It’s also possible to suspend the non-custodial parent’s professional licenses until they pay all owed child support. Recreational licenses may also be affected. Similarly, liens may be placed on the parent’s property so it can’t be sold until the debt is cleared.

Additionally, there’s the option of bank levies. In some cases, a court might seize funds from the non-custodial parent’s bank account to cover their outstanding child support.

If you want to present the strongest case possible and improve your chances of the court’s intervening on your behalf, you shouldn’t try to go through this process alone. Instead, rely on the proven team of child support lawyers at Wolfe & Stec. Because we have so much experience with these kinds of cases, we can make the process easier for everyone involved.

Child Support FAQs

If you’re up against child support issues in Illinois,  you may have many questions about what to expect. Here are answers to some inquiries we frequently receive from clients:

Does the father always pay child support?

No. Child support comes from the non-custodial parent, which isn’t always the father. If the mother doesn’t live with the child, she would be required to pay child support.

What is child support used for?

Child support payments can go toward a number of things, including housing, utilities, and groceries. These payments can also cover medical expenses if your child is ill or requires special services. Child support can help pay for school supplies, tutors, and other education-related costs, as well as childcare if the custodial parent works.

When does child support end?

Child support typically ends when the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever happens later. In Illinois, the age limit for receiving child support is 19. There may be exceptions to this rule in certain cases, however. If your child has special needs or is pursuing higher education, the non-custodial parent may need to continue paying child support.

Child support payments don’t always cease automatically, so if you’re the non-custodial parent, make sure to let your employer know that they should stop withholding your wages if they’ve been doing so. You may need to get an order from the court stating that you no longer need to make support payments because your child has aged out.

Is it possible to get temporary child support while a divorce or main child support case is pending?

Yes. The court can institute a temporary support order at any time while the main case is pending.

It’s important to note that the amount the court specifies for this temporary order may vary significantly from the final amount. In scenarios where the temporary support was lower than the final number, the court can order retroactive support for the period that the non-custodial parent was paying the smaller amount.

If you have more specific questions or concerns about child support in Illinois, our team can help you understand your rights and options.

Turn to Our Committed Aurora Child Support Lawyers

Wolfe & Stec Can Offer the Advocacy and Support You Need

Child support issues can be challenging to navigate. You may be struggling to make your support payments because of a change in your financial circumstances, or your ex-spouse may have missed several payments, making life difficult for you and your child. When you run into problems with your child support arrangement, a qualified attorney can help you overcome them.

The proven Aurora child support attorneys at Wolfe & Stec proudly represent both custodial and non-custodial parents throughout Illinois. We’re here to provide effective and compassionate legal support you can depend on.

Call us at 630-305-0222 to schedule a free consultation with an Illinois child support lawyer.