Lakeview, IL Child Support Lawyer

Devoted Child Support Attorney for Parents in Lakeview, Illinois

After a divorce between parents, it is highly likely that one of them will be ordered to pay child support by the court. This is an important mechanism to make sure that the child gets financial assistance from both parents, even if the child spends more time with one parent than the other. This can be quite a complicated subject for parents to deal with, so if you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to a Lakeview, Chicago child support lawyer.

At Cameron Law Center, LLC, Attorney Timothy Cameron has over 10 years of legal experience, and he has served as Special Assistant General Counsel for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. You can rely on us to provide you with strong advocacy for any child support issues you may have.

The Basics of Child Support in Illinois

Child support is usually paid out by the non-custodial parent—that is, the parent with less parenting time—to the custodial parent every month. These payments are intended to help cover necessary expenses in the child's upbringing, like housing, food, clothing, and educational expenses.

To calculate how much should be paid in child support, the courts refer to a model of income shares. The income shares model takes into account the net income of each parent, the number of children shared between each parent, and how much time each parent spends taking care of the child. This is considered the standard for child support, but the courts may deviate from the income shares model while keeping the child's best interests in mind.

When Can Child Support Be Modified in Illinois?

Sometimes, it is necessary to update a child support order in response to a significant change in circumstances. Common reasons to modify a child support order include:

• The child needs additional support after developing a health condition.
• The non-custodial parent is no longer able to meet their regular child support obligations after losing their job.
• The non-custodial parent gets a substantial increase in income.
• There has been a change in the existing parenting time order.

As a rule, any cause for modification should be in good faith, meaning that the non-custodial parent cannot simply quit their job to avoid paying child support. If the non-custodial parent was fired due to their own misconduct, the court can decline to modify the existing order.

At Cameron Law Center, LLC, we can go over your case to see if a modification of child support is warranted and help you take steps to modify the court order.

What if My Ex Will Not Pay Child Support?

If your ex has simply refused to pay child support without a legal justification, you should know that there are avenues to secure the payments that you deserve. One of the more straightforward ways to collect unpaid support is to petition the court to garnish your ex's wages. If granted, the court can seize up to 50 percent of your ex's wages, or up to a maximum of 60 percent if they do not have any other support obligations.

There are other sanctions that you can impose on your ex through the courts. For instance, if your ex falls more than three months behind on child support, the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services can request the Secretary of State to suspend their driver's license.

Contact a Lakeview, Chicago Child Support Lawyer Today

At Cameron Law Center, LLC, we can help you address any concerns you may have about child support. To schedule a free consultation with our Lakeview, Chicago family law attorney today, contact us online or call our offices at 312-489-8638 today.