Illinois Child Support Calculator

How Child Support is Calculated in Illinois

Illinois determines child support by looking at both your and the other parent's net income to see what you would have spent on the kids together. Your share of that total amount is based on your percentage of the combined income and how many overnights you each have with the children.

Understanding Illinois's Shared Custody Rules

In Illinois, if each parent has the children for at least 146 overnight stays per year (about 40% of the time), a special 'shared physical care' formula is used. This formula increases the basic support amount by 50% to cover the costs of two separate households, then calculates each parent's final obligation based on their income and specific share of parenting time.

Illinois Child Support FAQs

At what age does child support end in IL?

In Illinois, the obligation to pay child support typically ends when a child turns 18. However, if the child is still attending high school full-time, support continues until they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first.

How is child support calculated if one parent is unemployed in IL?

If a parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, a court can 'impute' income. This means the judge calculates support based on what the parent could be earning based on their skills, work history, and local job opportunities. A parent cannot typically avoid their support obligation by choosing not to work.

How do I modify a child support order in IL?

To modify a child support order in Illinois, you must show a 'substantial change in circumstances.' Legally, this is presumed if there is at least a 20% difference between the amount of the existing order and the amount a new calculation would yield.

Does IL child support cover college expenses?

Basic child support ends at age 18/19. However, Illinois law allows a parent to petition the court for 'non-minor support' to help cover college or vocational school expenses for a child under 23. The court considers the finances of both parents and the child before making an order.

How does IL handle health insurance and childcare costs?

These are treated as additional expenses on top of the basic child support obligation. The cost of the child's portion of health insurance premiums and necessary work-related childcare are typically added together and divided between the parents proportionally, based on their respective shares of the combined net income.