Although the formula for basic child support is standard in Illinois, there are expenses that could go beyond the standard child support calculation that simply looks at income, parenting time, and the number of children. There may be children with special needs, and therefore extraordinary expenses, or it may be that one spouse has to travel a great distance to spend time with the children resulting in substantial travel expenses. When negotiating child support, it is important to present factors that might compel the court to deviate from the standard child support guidelines so both parents get a fair shake.
Consider the following:
- You may have young children in daycare or children who have special needs that require specialized care, both of which can be expensive
- You or your ex-spouse may have support obligations to children from a previous marriage or relationship that must be taken into account
- One spouse may pay for the kids’ health insurance coverage through their employer or pick up medical expenses not covered by insurance
- A spouse that remains in the family home in a deferred sale arrangement, often to provide stability to the kids, may be picking up the mortgage, taxes and maintenance (or vice versa) which may offset some of the child support they will owe
- One spouse could have extraordinary needs of their own, such as costly medical needs that require ongoing care
- If parents to not reside in close proximity, one parent may incur more travel expenses such as plane tickets, hotel rooms and the like to participate in parenting time
- Parents with children heading off to college must consider tuition and other expenses they may incur
Any other factors that speak to fairness (or lack thereof) of the child support calculation should be part of the conversation when negotiating child support in an Illinois divorce. If you have questions regarding Illinois child support, parenting time or parenting responsibility or if you have questions about expenses that go beyond the standard child support calculation, contact Libertyville child support lawyers at Schlesinger & Strauss, LLC, today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation at 847-680-4970.
