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What You Need to Know If You Are Sending or Receiving Child Support
Child support is an important part of your co-parenting arrangements, and it raises many questions. Whether you’re the parent receiving support or the one paying it, getting some common questions out of the way early will mean you can go through the process with more confidence.
If you’re going to be navigating the legal process for child support in 2026, a St. Charles, IL family law attorney can help you understand how child support may work under your circumstances.
What Can Child Support Be Used For in Illinois?
Child support is meant to cover the everyday costs of raising a child. It’s not earmarked for any one expense. The parent who receives it has discretion over how it is spent, as long as it goes toward the child's wellbeing. Common expenses covered are:
- Housing, utilities, and other household costs for the benefit of the child
- Food, clothing, and personal hygiene items
- School supplies, tuition, and extracurricular activities
- Medical and dental care not covered by insurance
- Childcare and transportation costs
Child support isn’t meant to cover only the bare bones costs of raising a child. Judges consider the standard of living the child would have had if the family had stayed together. They use this as a benchmark when determining what a reasonable amount of support is.
How Much Child Support Will I Owe or Receive?
Illinois uses an "income shares" model to calculate child support, as outlined under 750 ILCS 5/505. Rather than basing the amount solely on the paying parent's income, the court combines both parents’ net incomes. That amount is compared to an economic model showing how much two-parent households at similar income levels usually spend on children. This baseline amount is then divided between the parents in proportion to their incomes. In general, the higher-earning parent pays more.
A few factors can cause the final amount to be different from the baseline amount. These include how much time each parent has with the child, extra medical needs, costs for private school or special education, and whether either parent supports children from another relationship.
What If One or Both Parents Have a Very High Income in an IL Child Support Case?
For families with a very large combined income, courts have more discretion than in the standard income shares model. A judge will look at the child's needs, the parents' financial circumstances, and the standard of living the child would have had.
These high-income cases can get complicated. Having a family law attorney who understands how to present your financial picture clearly is important for your case.
How Is Child Support Paid in Illinois?
In most cases, child support is collected through income withholding. This means the paying parent's employer deducts the support amount directly from each paycheck. The funds are then sent to the Illinois State Disbursement Unit, which processes and forwards the payment to the receiving parent.
If you are the parent receiving support, Illinois offers two electronic payment options through the SDU. You can receive direct deposit to a checking or savings account of your choice or get a state-issued debit card. This functions like a bank account you can use anywhere debit cards are accepted.
What If My Co-Parent Gets Paid in Cash and Needs To Pay Child Support in IL?
When the paying parent works for cash, such as a contractor or someone in the service industry, income withholding isn’t always an option. In these cases, the paying parent must usually make payments directly to the State Disbursement Unit on their own.
They can do this by mailing a check, paying by phone, or using one of the SDU's online payment options. The SDU then processes the payment and forwards it to the receiving parent through the normal channels.
The practical problem is that this setup depends on the paying parent actually paying. Without automatic withholding, missed or late payments are more common. If your co-parent is not paying consistently, the state can pursue collection through tax refund interception, property liens, and license suspension.
Can I Modify the Amount of Child Support I Receive in IL?
Illinois law allows either parent to request a review and modification of orders every three years or when there has been a substantial change in circumstances. This could mean a significant increase or decrease in either parent's income, a change in how much time the child spends with each parent, or new medical expenses or educational costs for the child.
After a modification is requested, a review is conducted that looks at current income, employment status, and any relevant balances. The process can sometimes be worked out between the parents directly, especially when both are willing to cooperate. When that is not possible, it goes before a judge.
Call a Kane County, IL Child Support Attorney Today
Attorney Matthew G. Shaw is a trained mediator with significant experience in Illinois family law. We’ll focus on mediation if possible for a faster, smoother resolution. When the situation calls for aggressive courtroom representation, we are fully prepared to litigate. To learn more, call Shaw Sanders, P.C. at 630-584-5550 to schedule a free consultation with our St. Charles, IL family law lawyer today.
630-584-5550