Child support is a vital part of family law. It ensures the well-being of children whose parents are no longer together. In Illinois, understanding the period of child support obligations is essential for both custodial and non-custodial parents. Below we will explore the guidelines and regulations surrounding child support in Illinois, shedding light on how long one may be required to pay child support.

Determining Child Support in Illinois

Before diving into the timeframe of child support, it is important to understand how child support amounts are calculated in Illinois. The state follows specific guidelines that consider various factors, including the income of both parents, the number of children, healthcare expenses, and childcare costs. These guidelines serve as a foundation for calculating child support obligations.

Duration of Child Support in Illinois

Child support obligations in Illinois continue until the child reaches the age of 18, in most cases. However, there are certain circumstances where child support may extend beyond this age - for instance:

In today's modern world, blended families are more common than ever, and many stepparents have taken a key role in their stepchildren's lives. However, a stepparent does not have the same legal rights in relation to a stepchild that a biological parent does. In Illinois, though, there is a legal process of adoption by which a stepparent may gain those rights.

Stepparent Adoption Process in Illinois

Many stepparents love their stepchildren as if the child is their own, and they want to adopt the child to become the child's official, legal parent.

The criteria for obtaining legal stepparent adoption in Illinois include:

When parents get a divorce, it can sometimes be difficult for them to remember that their children’s best interests should be their top priority. Parents can become focused on their own desires, and they may even attempt to use their children against each other. In some cases, one parent may attempt to manipulate their children into taking their side in disputes, or even cutting off contact with the other parent. This is known as “parental alienation”, and it can have damaging psychological effects on a child. If you believe that your ex is engaging in “parental alienation”, you will want to make sure you address this issue appropriately during legal proceedings related to child custody.

Understanding “Parental Alienation”

“Parental alienation”  is defined as attempts by one parent to cause their children to feel negatively about the other parent, or other forms of interference in their parent/child relationship. This may involve a variety of different actions, including speaking negatively about the other parent in the children's presence, asking children to monitor the other parent's activities or relationships, encouraging children to take sides in disputes, claiming that the other parent does not love the children or want to spend time with them, or refusing to allow the children to see or communicate with the other parent. This kind of behavior can be very harmful, because it creates an environment where the child feels that they must choose between their parents. The result is often increased stress for all parties involved, and long-lasting emotional damage for the child.

When trying to assess whether “parental alienation” is occurring, there are a few indicators you can look out for. If there is a sudden change in your child’s attitude towards you, or if they actively avoid spending time with you even after numerous attempts at communication, then there may be cause for concern. If your child's beliefs about you seem irrational, or if they use language that seems to come from your ex, those are signs that your ex may be attempting to alienate them against you, and you will need to determine how to respond.

When a married couple gets divorced,  as well as in other types of family law cases, court orders will be put in place that will detail how certain issues will be handled going forward. While parents are expected to follow the terms of these orders, situations may arise in which one parent may believe that the other has failed to meet their obligations. These disputes may be related to child custody, child support, or other issues. Understanding the best ways to address these issues is important, and parents who approach these matters the wrong way could face a number of additional legal concerns. If you are in this situation, here are some mistakes that you should be sure to avoid:

Withholding Child Support

In some cases, a parent may violate child custody orders; for example, they may fail to pick up or drop off children when required, or they may refuse to allow the other parent to communicate with the children. These actions can cause a great deal of difficulty, especially for a "non-custodial" parent who spends less time with their children than they would prefer. The inability to spend time with children or communicate with them about what is going on in their lives can have a significant impact on parent/child relationships, and a parent who is being denied parenting time may believe that they need to take action to compel the other parent to abide by a child custody order.

In response to the denial of parenting time or other violations, a parent may believe that the best action would be to stop paying child support to the other parent. However, doing so will only complicate a case further, and it may lead to court penalties for failing to meet one's financial obligations. Child support is a benefit provided to children rather than to the other parent, and the denial of this form of support will ultimately harm the children. To avoid potential penalties, a parent will need to address the other parent's violations through the court rather than taking matters into their own hands.

Here at Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C., we work hard every day to stay on top of all the latest developments in Illinois family law, and to ensure that our clients are accurately informed about the legal issues that may affect them. We regularly publish blogs on topics related to divorce, child custody, child support, and other legal issues that affect families, providing helpful information about Illinois law and the concerns that affect people involved in family court cases. We want to highlight the blogs that were most popular with our readers in 2022:

1. Will a Marriage Counselor Ever Suggest Divorce? - This blog looks at the approach that counselors will often take with couples who are experiencing marital problems, while also discussing how mediation can be a good solution for spouses who wish to proceed with the divorce process.

2. What Happens When Child Support Becomes Past Due in Illinois? - We look at the steps a parent can take to enforce child support orders in situations where the other parent has failed to meet their obligations.

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