Child Support and Why the Laws Change 

Child support is constantly evolving.  This is in part due to the political weight this topic carries, but also because single parent families have become more prevalent over the last 40 years.  Today’s law may change tomorrow, and the modifications are not always predictable.  Because of the rapid changing landscape surrounding child support law, not only in Illinois, but also on a federal level, it is important for those who depend on this assistance to provide for their family, to periodically review any legislative changes.

Recent changes regarding child support include raising the guideline percentages for two children from 25 percent to 28 percent.  This modification occurred in 2003 and was the result of advocates who work with the legislature to identify and create more efficient procedures and effective guidelines.  Currently Illinois law contains minimum guidelines for the setting of child support based solely on the net income of the non-custodial parent, while other states use gross income or adjusted gross income figures as the base, and still others have used income-share models.  These and many other alternatives continue to be debated and considered here in Illinois.

As child support law continues in its evolution and its sophistication, we as practitioners look for effective methods, to assist those who are entitled to child support.  There are many complicated issues that encompass this generation’s child support challenges, including multiple families, migratory spouses, international mobility, and life partners.  The task at hand is not always easy, but the protection of our state’s children remains one the most important undertakings as a family law attorney.

See Also:

Filing for Child Support

Establishing Child Support

Payment of Child Support

Modifications to a Child Support Order