Establishing Child Support

Under Illinois law, parents have a legal obligation to contribute to economic support of their children regardless of whether they are married, whether the children live with them and whether the relationship between the parent and child is a good one.  It is common for the court to order the payment of money by one or both parents to the other parent or a third party provider (of services for the children) for the child’s expenses and also to provide health insurance for the child/children.  The money that a parent pays to the other for child expenses is considered “Child Support”.

Child Support is intended to cover, “fixed” expenses such as food, housing, clothing and medical costs and “miscellaneous” expenses such as education, recreation and vacation.

Illinois law is clear and states both parents shall share the financial responsibility for the support of their child/children, though not necessarily equally, whether or not marriage takes place. (see §§3 and 14 of the Illinois Parentage Act of 1984 (Parentage Act), 750 ILCS 45/1, et esq.)

See Also:

Filing for Child Support

Payment of Child Support

Modifications to a Child Support Order

Child Support and Why the Laws Change