Many of the factors that determine your child support obligation are rooted in the following notion: what is in the best interests of the child should be encompassed by the support you pay.
Going over how the best interests of your child affect your child support obligation and speaking with an experienced Schaumburg child support attorney will allow you to obtain the best possible legal outcome.
Watch Attorney Thomas T. Glasgow discuss child support on YouTube.
How Is Your Child Support Obligation Determined?
Your child support obligation is determined using the following system:
- Your net income and the net income of the other parent are clarified.
- Both net incomes are combined into a single figure.
- The percentage of net income brought into the household by each parent is determined.
- The combined income is put into a chart that determines the basic child support obligation.
- That basic child support obligation is multiplied by the percentages of net income for each parent.
- The numbers that result from this process exist as each parent’s child support obligation.
Outside of the above, your child support obligation can be valued in different ways. This means that you may owe more – or even less; this isn’t too common, though – depending on the circumstances.
How Do The Best Interests Of Your Child Affect Your Child Support Obligation?
The best interests of your child can and do affect your child’s support obligation. What this means is as follows: if your child has needs that are not covered by the system outlined earlier, then you may owe more.
To assess what is in the best interests of your child, the court looks at the following factors:
- The financial responsibilities of you and the other parent.
- The financial needs of your child.
- The physical needs of your child.
- The emotional needs of your child.
- The educational needs of your child
- The needs of you and the other parent.
- The standard of living your child would have enjoyed if you and the other parent stayed together.
For example, if your child sees a therapist once a week, this can be added to your child support obligation. This applies to other things, too, such as your child going to private school or having a special diet.
Can You Modify Your Child Support Obligation?
You can adjust your child support obligation. This is only possible, though, if a change in circumstances warrants a modification to your current obligation.
If your circumstances change, but you cannot obtain a modification, then you still owe the amount of child support you are legally required to pay. This can lead to serious legal and financial problems, among other possibilities.
Given the facts outlined above, it is of the utmost importance that you work with an attorney who can help you obtain the best possible legal outcome.
You can click here to learn more about how child support is calculated in a divorce.
Get Qualified Legal Help Today
If you need representation for a divorce or child support matter in Cook County, Glasgow & Olsson is here to help.
When you need an attorney, experience matters.
Contact our Chicago child support attorneys today to learn how our experience can get you the results you deserve.