Bloomingdale Child Support Lawyers

Attorneys Helping Parents Address Child Support and Child-Related Expenses in Bloomingdale, IL

Client-Centered Family Law Representation

Steven Mevorah was very straightforward with his assessment of the situation and how he was going to represent it in court.

I would highly recommend him and his practice.

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What Child Support Is Meant to Cover

The amount of child support that is calculated based on the parents' incomes is meant to address the everyday costs of raising a child. These payments may be used for housing, groceries, clothing, transportation, and other daily expenses. However, raising a child will often involve expenses that go beyond these basic costs. Child support orders may be adjusted to account for other types of expenses, including:

Child Care Expenses

When a parent is working or attending school or job training, they may need to take steps to ensure that children will receive the proper care and supervision. The costs of child care will typically be divided between parents. Child care expenses may include daycare, after-school programs, babysitting, nannies, or any care that will be needed during periods when children are not in school.

Health Insurance and Medical Expenses

Parents will typically be required to maintain health insurance coverage for children. The costs that will be required to provide coverage through one parent's health plan may be addressed in child support orders and divided between parents. Other medical expenses may also be divided, including medications, dental or orthodontic treatment, or therapy.

Educational Expenses

Parents may divide different types of educational costs, including tuition for private schools, fees and supplies while attending school, and any tutoring that may be required. Parents may also be required to contribute to their children's college expenses.

Extracurricular Activities

The costs involved in participation in sports leagues, music lessons, arts programs, summer camps, and other activities may be addressed in a child support order. Parents may reach agreements on what types of activities will be appropriate, and they may divide the expenses involved.

Modifying a Child Support Order

After a child support order has been established, parents or children may encounter issues that will require the amount of payments to be adjusted. A parent may request a modification of child support to address changes in the circumstances affecting a family. For example, a significant increase or decrease in either parent's income may be a reason to adjust the amount of payments. If a parent loses their job or experiences a major financial setback, they may be unable to pay child support as ordered. By filing a modification request, they can avoid the financial difficulties that may come with the requirement to pay child support based on their previous income.

Changes in a child's needs may also be a reason to modify child support. If a child develops a significant medical condition or will require special educational services, a parent may ask for child support to be modified to ensure that the associated costs will be shared correctly. Child support may also be adjusted when charges are made to parenting time schedules, ensuring that payments reflect each parent's contributions to raising their children.

Enforcing Child Support Orders

If a parent has not received child support payments, they may take steps to ensure that the other parent meets their financial obligations. Child support enforcement methods that may be used by courts include wage garnishment, liens on a parent's property, or interception of tax refunds. To ensure that child support will be paid, courts may take steps to suspend a person's driver's license or even impose jail time for a parent who refuses to pay support as required. Our attorneys can help clients understand their options for enforcement while addressing any related legal issues or disputes that may arise.