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What is the incomes shares model for child support?

On Behalf of | Jul 31, 2017 | Fathers' Rights |

Child support is ordered when a child’s parents do not live together in Illinois. In divorce cases, it is automatically handled as part of the overall legal process. Typically, if you are the parent who has physical custody of the children and with whom they live, you get the support payments. The other parent makes the payments, often having them automatically deducted from his or her paycheck.

According to Illinois.gov, the new format for decided child support is called the income shares model. The main distinction of this model is it uses your income and your children’s other parent’s income to determine how much support is awarded. Calculations to determine the amount of support you will be paid are made from the gross income you and your children’s other parent receive each month. Parenting time and other financial obligations are also considered.

If you share physical custody, this will affect the amount of child support paid. It can reduce the amount you receive or pay if one of you has physical custody at least 40 percent of the time. A 50/50 split of parenting time or if you have more than one child and you each have physical custody of at least one child also affects the payments.

Special calculations and questionnaires are used to help determine the amount of child support. There are allowances for low and high-income situations that give the court the right to make special adjustments. There is a minimum of $40 per month per child for low-income situations, but high-income situations may have no limits. While this information should not be taken as legal advice, it can help you understand the process and what to expect.

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