Geneva, Illinois Child Support Lawyers

Supportive Divorce Attorneys Assisting Clients with Child Support in Geneva, IL

Family law requires a specific kind of lawyer – one who understands the law but also has a firm grasp on the personal nature of divorce concerns, including child support. At Serrano Hanson & Hurtado, LLC, we understand that our clients need more than a lawyer during this challenging time in their lives. We take pride in offering sound legal guidance, offering innovative solutions, and seeing each client as the unique person with individual needs that they are. When it is time for you to address child support legally, our attorneys can help.

How Does Child Support Work in Illinois?

In the dissolution of a marriage, child support is paid to the custodial parent – the parent with whom the child spends a majority of time. In cases where the court decides joint custody is appropriate, the parent who brings home less income may be awarded child support. These payments are intended to cover expenses related to the child's development, such as the cost of food, clothing, and living arrangements. Parents may also need to divide expenses related to schooling, daycare, medical expenses, and extracurricular activities.

In most cases, child support is terminated when the child reaches the age of 18. If the child has not graduated high school by that point, child support can be extended until his or her graduation. After the termination of child support, parents may be required to assist with the costs of post-secondary studies such as college tuition or trade school. Additionally, child support could be extended into adulthood if the child has a profound physical or intellectual disability that would prevent him or her from becoming independent.

Child Support and Divorce

In Illinois, there are general guidelines that a judge will use to determine how much child support should be paid. Some of the factors that will affect this amount include:

• The number of children a parent supports;
• The net income of both parents;
• Additional expenses, including taxes, medical expenses, insurance, etc.;
• The child's previous standard of living; and
• The financial resources of the parents.

The judge will use his or her own discretion when deciding whether to raise or lower the amount suggested by the official guidelines. We offer our clients a comprehensive picture of their finances in order to ensure that the best decision for the child or children involved is reached.

Other Child Support Concerns

If the parents of a child were never married, the non-custodial parent is still legally obligated to support his or her child through child support. In some cases, this may require legally establishing paternity for the child before a court will enter a child support order. We can help you take the necessary steps to legally establish paternity for your child and to receive the support he or she needs from their other biological parent.

After a divorce decree has been finalized, there may be other issues that arise regarding child support allocation. If one of the parents loses his or her job, gets a promotion, or the custody situation changes, the child support agreement may need to be modified. We can handle these issues along with other post-decree modifications that may arise as time passes. Our experienced attorneys will review your current arrangement and work towards a solution that better suits your needs.

Contact a Geneva Child Support Attorney Today

Figuring out a child support arrangement that works for all parties can be challenging. If you need help with a child support issue in Illinois, contact us today at 630-844-8781 to set up a consultation. Serrano Hanson & Hurtado, LLC provides representation throughout Kane, Kendall, DeKalb, and DuPage Counties, including Geneva, St. Charles, Batavia, South Elgin, and Campton Hills. Our attorneys bring over 50 years of total experience to the table, and we have a history of providing skilled representation for our clients.