Law Offices of Robert M. Kaplan, P.C.
Schaumburg Family Law Attorney
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Child Support
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Robert M. Kaplan can help guide you through child support guidelines and requirements in the greater Chicago area.

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Child Support Lawyer in Schaumburg

Child Support Lawyer in Schaumburg Are you and your spouse in the middle of a divorce in Schaumburg, IL? Do you have questions about what will happen to your children and who will be financially responsible for their wellbeing after your divorce is finalized? Have you been feeling overwhelmed by what the future holds for your child and for your family?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. Nearly everyone who is going through a divorce has questions and concerns about the process—particularly when children are involved. That is why our Rolling Meadows family law attorney, Mr. Robert Kaplan, chooses to work with clients all throughout the greater Chicago area to help their divorces go as smoothly as possible. 

You probably have questions about your child and any potential child support you will have to pay as a result of your divorce. At the Law Offices of Robert M. Kaplan, we are here to help guide you through this difficult time.

If you need a trusted family law attorney who can answer your questions about child support guidelines and requirements, please give our law office a call. We can schedule a time for you to meet with Mr. Kaplan so that he can discuss your situation with you and help you come up with a plan. As a licensed Illinois family law attorney, Mr. Kaplan can provide you with specific legal advice and represent you in your divorce proceedings if necessary. 

Below we have compiled some general information about child maintenance in Hoffman Estates to help you better understand the topic. For answers to your individual questions or to retain our law office, please schedule a legal consultation with Mr. Kaplan.

How Can an Attorney Help Me with Child Support?

Child support can be tricky. However, our experienced attorneys can help ensure your child receives the necessary financial support they need.

Calculating Support Amount

An attorney can determine the appropriate child support based on state guidelines. Ultimately, your attorney can ensure your child's needs are adequately met.

Negotiating Agreements

An attorney can negotiate terms with the other parent and work toward a fair agreement that reflects your child's best interests and avoids potential conflicts.

Enforcement and Modifications

If issues arise, an attorney can help enforce the agreement or seek modifications to ensure the support remains appropriate and fair for your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you had a child out of wedlock and the father is not contributing to the expenses of your child, you may be eligible for child support and other expenses (such as medical costs, child care, and extracurricular activities) from the parentage or paternity court. You have to file a petition for him to do so, and once that petition is filed you have preserved the issue as of the date of filing. The same is true for fathers raising their children without help from the mother.

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Do you have more questions on child support? Please contact our Schaumburg IL law firm for a consultation today. 

Because of the complexity of the legal system and the necessity to follow the proper steps in order to receive the money owed to you, seeking legal counsel is a good idea. Illinois attorney, Robert M. Kaplan PC is experienced in all aspects of family law and will guide you through the process of receiving child support due to you.

Caring for children can be costly and often the custodial parent relies on child support payments to make ends meet. When a parent does not pay, it can create a financial hardship for you and your child. Fortunately, if you have a court agreement, you will likely have legal recourse to receive the money owed to you.

Collecting Child Support in Illinois

If you have a court-ordered child support agreement and the child’s non-custodial parent has failed to pay for child support, the courts may be able to help you receive your eligible back child support as well as future payments.

Often, unless both parties agreed otherwise, child support is taken directly from the parent’s paycheck. If you both have agreed not to have it taken directly from the paycheck, you may still have legal recourse. 

A court-ordered child support agreement entitles you to receive child support as long as:

  • The non-custodial parent has a steady job and paycheck
  • The judge has entered a child support order

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If payments are not made, the judge may file to garnish their wages in order to reclaim delinquent child support money. To do so, filing a “Notice to Withhold Income for Support” will be necessary. If the non-custodial parent intentionally violates the court order, they may be found in contempt of court and potentially face jail time. If you have more questions on child support, please contact the Law Offices of Robert M. Kaplan for a consultation

Hopefully, your divorce decree sets forth an obligation to contribute to your child’s college education. However, in the event it doesn’t the Illinois courts can make a divorced parent contribute toward their child’s college expenses. If you have not been divorced yet or if your divorce decree does not require a contribution to your child’s college education, then you must file a petition with the Court. Once that petition is filed, you have preserved the issue as of the date of filing, and you will exchange financial information with the other parent to determine whether a contribution is likely to be ordered.

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Do you have more questions about college expenses in relation to child support? Please contact our Schaumburg IL law firm for a consultation. 

True-up means balancing predicted and actual income for those who have fluctuations in their income.

For example, when you or your ex-spouse's income fluctuates, i.e., a salesman with a base salary plus commission, you will often hear that a "true-up" is necessary at the end of each quarter or year to balance the "estimated" or "base" salary with the actual salary.

If there has been an over or underpayment, you "true-up" at that time. As part of the process, all income information is exchanged, and the accurate child support (or maintenance) sum is determined. Documents involved usually include W-2s, 1099s, K-1s, tax returns, and bank statements – both personal and business records.

If you and your spouse both have a set salary and make the same amount every month, a true-up may not be necessary. You should talk to your Schaumberg attorney if you have questions to ensure the divorce, child support, and maintenance plans are fair.

Contact Our Schaumburg, IL Family Law Firm

Do you have more questions on child support in Cook County? Please contact the family law firm of Robert M. Kaplan for a consultation. 

What is child support?

As its name implies, child support is a monetary payment made to help support minor children. Child support typically comes into play after marriage or another committed relationship has ended. Child support is designed to benefit children who are typically under the age of 18, and it can cover a wide range of living expenses from basic necessities to extracurriculars and even college tuition

The bottom-line goal of child support is to help keep the child’s standard of living equal and even between the two parents, even if the child spends significantly more time with one parent. For this reason, child support payments may not be equal between both parents. 

For example, if you are the only working parent or if your salary is significantly higher than your spouse’s, you can expect to pay more than they do in child support each month. Your child support payments (or lack thereof) will vary depending on your individual set of circumstances. 

To learn more about the specifics of child support and how you can expect your arrangement to work, you can contact child support attorney Robert M. Kaplan today by calling our law office. 

How is child support calculated?

The amount of child support is going to be different in every situation. The amount you and your ex-spouse are required to pay in child support will be determined by several factors and largely based on each party’s income. On average across the country, monthly child support payments tend to be in the range of $400.00. 

In most cases, the calculation of child support is a fairly straightforward matter. Each parent's income is considered according to the state's child support guidelines to come up with an amount. Other issues may need to be taken into consideration as well, such as childcare, medical care, educational needs, and parenting time. 

While the calculation of child support tends to be straightforward, there is also the issue of making certain that all of the numbers used in the calculation are accurate. An experienced lawyer makes certain nothing is overlooked. At our Rolling Meadows law firm, it is our job to make sure you are never paying more in child support than what is fair. When you are ready to schedule your meeting with attorney Robert Kaplan, give our law office a call. 

Meet Our Attorney:

Schaumburg IL attorney Robert M. Kaplan

Robert M. Kaplan

Attorney Robert M. Kaplan is dedicated to assisting clients with family law, real estate law, estate planning, and probate matters. After receiving a degree in law from The ...

What are some specific examples of what child support covers?

As explained above, child support can actually be used for a wide range of expenses. At the very minimum, child maintenance should cover the basic living expenses of your child. This includes items such as clothing, food, shelter, and healthcare. Child support from one parent will typically help cover costs such as rent or mortgage payments and utility bills. 

Traditionally, child support also covers reasonable education-related expenses such as school supplies, tuition or course fees, or tutors. 

It may surprise you to learn, however, that child support is often used for much more than these basic “necessary” expenses. While child support was initially designed to cover only the essentials in life, it has become a more complex — and highly debated — topic in many divorce cases. 

If it is specifically stated in the settlement agreement, child support payments can commonly cover costs related to transportation (think gas, bus passes, and car insurance), entertainment (sports, clubs, and extracurriculars), and vacations (airplane tickets and hotels). Your child support agreement should specifically outline the types of uses for the money that are appropriate. You can work with our caring Schaumburg family law attorney to come up with a settlement agreement that is best for you and your family. 

Why do I need an attorney’s help when it comes to child support?

Boy in green rain jacket How much money does it really cost to raise a child? Perhaps you know the answer to that question. Perhaps you think you know the answer, but when you see the actual dollar amount, you may be surprised. Child support expenses can add up very quickly, and you may be feeling at a loss for how to manage them. 

In the end, you want to make certain that your child gets a fair amount of financial support. You also want to look out for yourself and make sure that what you are being asked to pay is reasonable. Whether you are going through a divorce or are involved in a paternity dispute, the Law Offices of Robert M. Kaplan, P.C., in Schaumburg, can help you handle this important aspect of your case.

How do I modify my child support payments?

Do you need to modify existing child support payments? Changes in income, from job loss to salary increases, may require changes. Unexpected expenses, such as those that come with emergency medical conditions, may also require adjustments. You may even need to make a change to cover college tuition.

If you need to modify your child support payments in Schaumburg we can help! Contact attorney Robert Kaplan today by calling (847) 845-9477

Featured Blog Posts - Child Support

February 25, 2025

The Basics of Child Support in Illinois

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Parents should support their children, and this often includes financial support. For parents who live together, financially supporting children is pretty straightforward, but this can change when the parents separate or live apart.

There might be visitation and custody agreements for parents who don't live together, but child support agreements might ...

May 11, 2020

Unemployment and Child Support in Illinois

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We are all living in challenging times. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more Americans are finding themselves out of work. 

If you are a parent who typically makes regular child support payments but are one of the millions of people who have recently lost their job, you may have ...

May 15, 2016

How is child support delegated?

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When a relationship ends, the children remain. Most parents want to take care of their kids in the very best way they can, but of course, finances are always a great concern when planning for your child’s future. The child support process can be a difficult one to navigate. Knowing ...

Free Legal Consultations Are Available in Schaumburg

We offer free legal consultations to help you determine if our team is the right fit for your Illinois child support needs. Our law office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and evening and weekend appointments are available.

We offer legal guidance to people in Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg, and Hoffman Estates. Contact us today to schedule your meeting with child support attorney Robert M. Kaplan! 

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