Victims of domestic abuse often leave the family home with or without children to escape to safety, or sometimes get a restraining order barring an abusive spouse from entering the home if they stay put. When couples separate due to domestic violence, a lesser earning spouse may be left without needed financial resources. During the…Read More
Workers’ Compensation and Child Support
If you are out of work due to a work related injury, you are likely entitled to workers’ compensation temporary disability benefits paid at a rate based on 80% of the employee’s weekly spendable earnings, not to exceed the maximum. For parents who pay child support, the fact that an employee’s wage is reduced does…Read More
Post Judgement Modification after Divorce
There are a number of reasons why divorced couples may seek a post judgment modification, including matters that involve the custody and support of children. Not surprisingly, with the passage of time, adjustments to child support or parenting time may be needed. A substantial change in circumstances since the entry of the last order may…Read More
Illinois Child Support Enforcement
When parents separate, affording groceries, child care, and other necessities for their child can be challenging. Child support payments can help unmarried and divorced parents cover child related costs, so it is important to establish an enforceable child support order to ensure regular payments. However, sometimes government agencies are overwhelmed with requests, and a custodial…Read More
Child Support for a Soon-To-Be-Adult Child With Special Needs
Having a disabled child can be financially challenging for parents because they want to ensure their child has all the resources they will need. Many special needs children require specialized care and support, education, and assistive devices which can strain financial resources thin, needs which continue into adulthood. When parents of disable children divorce, child…Read More
Parent Not Providing Financial Child Support
Divorced parents are legally obligated to provide financial support for their children, ensuring that their child has the resources they need such as shelter, clothing, food and other basic requirements. Sometimes a parent who is considering divorce has concerns about the other parent pulling their weight when it comes to supporting their child. They may…Read More
Parenting Time and Child Support
With the new parenting time law in the state of Illinois, many divorcing parents think about parenting time as it relates to child support rather than what may be in the best interest of the child. Because the amount of child support a parent will pay is contingent upon how many overnights they have with…Read More
Fighting a Judgement for Imputed Income
Parents have a fundamental responsibility to support their minor or legally dependent children even if they are divorced. Sometimes a parent will fail to pay their fair share of child support, perhaps because they are out of work or underemployed. Everyone can fall on hard times, but if a parent does not make an effort…Read More
Child Support Debt and Bankruptcy
Parents who have accumulated child support debt often wonder if they have options under bankruptcy to discharge the child support arrears. Although it may be disheartening for parents struggling with significant delinquency to hear, the answer is no because child support is a priority debt and child support and arrears must be paid. However, bankruptcy…Read More
Child Support Statute of Limitations
Many saw the story break last year about a California woman who was awarded child support 50 years after her ex-husband hightailed it to Canada, leaving her to raise their 3 year old without the benefit of financial support. Fifty years later, realizing California did not have a statute of limitations on child support payments,…Read More