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My Spouse Makes More Money Than Me. Why Do I Have to Pay Him/Her Child Support?

My Ex-Spouse Makes More Money Than Me. Why Do I Have to Pay Him or Her Child Support?

DuPage County Attorneys Explain Child Support After Divorce

Child support is one of the most emotionally involved topics covered during the divorce process. Under Illinois law, children have the right to be supported by both parents. Child support refers to the amount of money that the court orders one parent to pay another. If you are filing for divorce or addressing child custody issues as an unmarried parent, our team of experienced family law attorneys at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC can help you navigate the child support laws.

Do You Still Owe Child Support if Your Ex-Spouse Earns More Money?

In the past, child support was calculated by examining the non-custodial parent's income and the number of dependents. However, under the current laws in Illinois, family courts use more advanced formulas to calculate child support. The laws factor in multiple variables, including:

  • The income of both parents;
  • The financial needs of both parents;
  • The number of children;
  • Each parent's parenting time and parental responsibilities, including the number of overnights for children in each parent's home;
  • The financial requirements of the child;
  • The educational needs of the child (e.g., tuition, school supplies, or other expenses); and
  • The standard of living the child received while the parents were married.

Under Illinois law, it is possible that you could owe child support even if your ex-spouse earns more money. For instance, if your ex-spouse will have the majority of the parenting time, and the two of you have multiple children with extensive financial needs, you may still owe child support. Child support payments may be used for general living expenses, including food and shelter. You may also share additional expenses, such as the costs of sending your children to daycare. Even if your ex-spouse is the higher earner, you may be required to make child support payments to ensure that your children will have the financial resources they need.

Your trusted attorney can guide you through the legal process and assist you with your support case. In complex cases or cases involving self-employed parents, forensic accounting may be useful when determining fair child support payments. Forensic accounting refers to the in-depth analysis of accounting records, taxes, business receipts, and more to determine the true income of one or both parents. By fully understanding the incomes of both parents and the expenses involved in raising your children, you can ensure that child support obligations will be determined correctly.

Contact Our DuPage County Child Support Lawyers

If you believe you are entitled to an increase or reduction in child support payments, or if you have concerns about how child support will be calculated, contact an attorney. At Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC, we will work hard to craft the best parenting plan for you and help you understand the laws that will apply in your case. Our firm has decades of combined experience in divorce and family law.

Contact our Wheaton, IL office at 630-665-7300 to schedule an Initial Attorney Meeting. We represent clients throughout the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, including Wheaton, Naperville, Oak Brook, and DuPage, Kane, and Kendall Counties.

Si Me Mudo Durante Divorcio Sere Acusado Abandono

¿Si me mudo de nuestra casa durante el divorcio, seré acusado de abandono?

Los abogados de familia del condado de DuPage detallan las preocupaciones relacionadas con mudarse durante un divorcio

Cuando uno decida divorciarse, o si su cónyuge le informa sobre su intención de obtener un divorcio, enfrentará muchas preocupaciones que probablemente no había considerado anteriormente. Estas incluyen custodia y visitación de los hijos, manutención conyugal, manutención de los hijos, y la división de la propiedad conyugal.

Quizás el problema más inmediato que se debe considerar es qué sucederá con su situación de vivienda. ¿Debe usted mudarse de la residencia? ¿Debe su cónyuge mudarse? ¿Cuáles son las ramificaciones?

En Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC, entendemos la dificultad de las situaciones y decisiones que surgen como parte del proceso de divorcio, especialmente en el principio. La cuestión de mudarse de su hogar es una de las decisiones más significativas.

¿Quién debería mudarse durante el divorcio?

Vivir bajo el mismo techo con su pronto a ser ex cónyuge no es el mejor curso de acción. Incluso en un divorcio colaborativo, hay muchos días difíciles por delante, y los desacuerdos pueden afectar gravemente una familia y sus hijos. Después de consultar con un abogado de divorcio, si usted está en buenos términos con su cónyuge, pueden intentar decidir cuál es la decisión óptima para todos los involucrados.

Haberse ido de su residencia no significa que haya abandonado a sus hijos. Los jueces de derecho de familia entienden que mantener residencias separadas puede evitar que los hijos enfrenten los argumentos y la acritud que frecuentemente resultan durante un divorcio.

Un abogado con experiencia en divorcios puede ayudarle a crear un plan de crianza que aborde su nuevo arreglo de vivienda y un calendario de custodia compartida o exclusiva dependiendo de las circunstancias del caso.

Contacte a un abogado de divorcio en el condado de DuPage

Un divorcio es una de las situaciones más estresantes que un individuo puede sobrellevar, y decidir cuál cónyuge debería mudarse puede agravar esa dificultad. No se mude hasta que hable con un abogado de Wheaton, IL. Comuníquese con MKFM Law al 630-665-7300 para una consulta gratuita.

How to Calculate Illinois Child Support

How to Calculate Illinois Child Support After the July 2017 Law Change

DuPage County Lawyer Explains New Child Support Guidelines in Illinois

On July 1, 2017, the child support guidelines changed in Illinois. Currently, child support is calculated using an income shares formula. The model takes into account two main factors: each parent's income and the amount of income that is usually spent on the number of children involved.

The child support guidelines can significantly impact your child support obligations and payments. If your divorce case involves child support, or if you have any questions about how the new guidelines will affect the amount of support you pay or receive, contact the family law attorneys at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC. Our lawyers can help you determine the amount of child support you will be legally required to pay.

Calculating Child Support Obligations

One of the primary factors included in the child support formula is the parents' net monthly income. Parents can use a standardized tax amount formula or an individualized tax amount formula to determine their net monthly income. Once each parent's net income is determined, the two incomes are combined. Using this combined income and the number of children the parents share, tables published by the state of Illinois will be used to determine the amount of income that would ordinarily be spent to care for the children. For example, if the parents' combined income is $10,000, and they share one child, that amount is $1,445 per month.

After the amount required to care for the children is established, the amount each parent should contribute in support is determined. This amount is determined based on the contributions each parent makes to the monthly net income. If a parent makes $7,500 per month, and the couple's total monthly net income is $10,000 per month, that means that parent contributes 75 percent to the net income. The percentage of contribution the parent makes is multiplied by the amount of the child support obligation:

75% x $1,445 = $1,083.75 per month

Therefore, the parent would be obligated to pay $1,083.75 per month in child support.

The other parent would be responsible for the remaining amount. However, when children will be living with one parent the majority of the time, that parent will typically receive payments from the other parent. In this example, if the children will live primarily with the parent who earns 25 percent of the total monthly net income, that parent will receive $1,083.75 each month from the other parent.

How Parenting Time May Affect Child Support Calculations

The amount of parenting time each parent has with a child may also affect the calculation of child support. The calculation detailed above will be used if one parent will have the child for less than 146 nights per year. If each parent has the child for 146 or more nights per year, the standard formula may not apply, and other factors will be considered when determining the amount of child support.

Contact Our DuPage County Child Support Lawyers

It can be difficult to understand exactly how the child support guidelines in Illinois will affect your support obligations and other aspects of your divorce. To determine the amount of child support you will be required to pay, contact our Wheaton family law attorneys at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC. Call us at 630-665-7300 or contact us online. We serve clients in Naperville, Wheaton, Oak Brook, and throughout DuPage County.

Importara Donde Nos Casamos Divorcio Illinois

¿Para el divorcio, es importante en donde nos casamos?

Los abogados de divorcio del condado de DuPage le informan si la ubicación del matrimonio es importante en los procedimientos de divorcio

Muchas preguntas surgen cuando contempla o comienza el proceso de divorcio. Estas podrían incluir asuntos relacionados a custodia y visitación de los hijos, manutención de los hijos, apoyo conyugal, y división de propiedad conyugal. Antes de tomar cualquier decisión, consulte con un abogado con experiencia en divorcios que pueda guiarlo a través del proceso de divorcio.

Una pregunta común es si la ubicación del matrimonio causará complicaciones durante el divorcio si este ocurrió en otro estado o país.

Los abogados diestros en divorcio de Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella entienden la incertidumbre y las preocupaciones que acompañan un divorcio. Sabemos que la tensión puede ser abrumadora mientras considera su vida después del divorcio. Independientemente de las preocupaciones que pueda tener, MKFM puede proveerle el asesoramiento legal y representación que necesita para disminuir su carga emocional.

Sin importar si usted y su cónyuge pueden llegar a un acuerdo mediante un divorcio colaborativo o mediación de divorcio, o si se requiere litigación de divorcio, puede confiar en MKFM Law para luchar por la resolución que desea.

¿El matrimonio en un estado afecta el divorcio en otro?

En resumen, no. Si usted se casó en otro estado o país y el matrimonio no es contra las leyes de Illinois, este será legalmente reconocido en la corte. Si usted ha residido en el estado de Illinois por lo menos 90 días antes de la finalización del divorcio, la corte tiene la autoridad legal de otorgar la disolución de su matrimonio.

Contacte a un Abogado de Divorcio en Wheaton, IL

En MKFM Law, brindamos atención compasiva a nuestros clientes mientras perseguimos enérgicamente el acuerdo de divorcio que necesitan a medida que pasan al próximo capítulo de sus vidas. Para hablar con un abogado adepto de derecho familiar en el Condado de DuPage, contáctenos al 630-665-7300 para una consulta gratuita.

How Much Parenting Time or Visitation Will I Receive?

How Much Parenting Time (Formerly Called Visitation) Will I Receive in Illinois?

DuPage County Attorneys Helping to Clarify Questions Regarding Illinois Parenting Time

The first question most parents ask when going through their divorce is: "How much time will I be allowed to spend with my children?" Our team of DuPage County attorneys at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC can help you explain what you need to know. What used to be called "visitation" is now referred to as "parenting time," and other changes have also been made to the child custody laws in Illinois. As you work to address issues related to your children during your divorce, we can help you negotiate agreements

Parenting Time in Illinois

When discussing family law cases, people often use the term "physical custody" when referring to the time children spend with their parents. Rather than designating one parent as the "custodial parent" and granting visitation time to the other parent, Illinois law refers to any time that children spend with either parent as "parenting time." This time may include days and nights when children will live in either parent's home, as well as shorter periods of time that they may spend in a parent's care.

In Illinois, there is no law providing a minimum amount of parenting time for either parent. The allotted time varies on a case-by-case basis, but there are some arrangements that are commonly used. Children may live with one parent the majority of the time, and they may spend alternating weekends with the other parent. Weekends will typically last from Friday morning until Sunday evening. In some cases, children may also spend time with a parent one or two evenings during the week to have dinner or engage in other activities.

Extended time may also be allowed for periods when the child will not be attending school, such as holidays or school breaks. Arrangements may also be made to have the children spend time with a parent on the child's or parent's birthday. Each family's specific needs are different, and parenting time schedules may be created that will fit specific situations while providing for children's best interests and ensuring that they can maintain good relationships with both parents.

When creating schedules for parenting time with the child, a family court judge will base their decisions on the best interest of the child. While coming to this conclusion, a judge will look over some of the following factors:

  • The wishes of the child, depending on the child's age, maturity and education;
  • You and your spouse's wishes;
  • How well the child has adjusted in regards to schooling, their home, and community;
  • The physical and mental health of you, your spouse, and your child;
  • If either parent has any past or ongoing acts of violence against the other parent or your child; and
  • How willing you and your ex are willing to encourage a close ongoing relationship between your ex-partner and the child.

Contact Our DuPage County Parenting Time Lawyers

The attorneys at Mirabella, Kincaid, Frederick & Mirabella, LLC are eager to help you with all the questions you may have about parenting time and other child custody concerns. Contact us to set up an initial consultation by calling 630-665-7300. We have helped families throughout DuPage County, Kendall County, and Kane County for generations.

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