Child Support & Maintenance

Calculate Child Support and Maintenance with Help from Brave Law Center, P.C.

In Illinois, many divorces result in the need to determine appropriate child support payments or spousal support via maintenance. Depending on the circumstances of each case, child support and maintenance payments might be more expensive than one party can afford. Conversely, those who do not receive financial assistance can run into difficulties supporting themselves and their children. If either of these situations seems familiar to you, your best option is to contact an experienced family law attorney in Peoria IL. With years of experience in local family law, the Brave Law Center, P.C. team should be your top choice for resolving child support and maintenance issues.

What is Child Support?

Child support refers to the financial contributions a non-custodial parent must make toward their children’s upbringing following a divorce. Ultimately, child support aims to ensure a child’s needs are entirely met, reflecting the standard of living the child would have enjoyed before the parents’ separation. Per Illinois law, child custody payments are calculated using a formula that incorporates the income of both parents and the number of children needing support. Child custody payments must be used for the express benefit of your children, helping with budgeting related to:

• Basic Needs – Food, clothing, and shelter are essential for maintaining a stable living environment for children, and all are included as part of child support.
• Healthcare – Medical insurance, routine check-ups, necessary medical treatments, etc., can be expensive, yet are necessary to keep your children happy and healthy.
• Childcare – The cost of daycare or babysitting can become excessive for working parents. Child support can ease the burden of the costs associated with childcare.
• Education – Back-to-school supplies, tuition, extracurricular activities, and more can quickly add up. Child support payments help keep kids on the right educational track.
• Transportation – Whether taking your kids to sports practices, medical appointments, or school activities, child support can help cover associated transportation costs.
• Miscellaneous – Any additional expenses that may arise, such as fees for camps, sports, or other recreational activities.

What is Maintenance?

Maintenance, also called alimony, is a financial obligation that one spouse may be required to pay to the other after a legal separation. The purpose of maintenance is to help the lower-earning spouse maintain a standard of living comparable to what they enjoyed during the marriage. In Illinois, when determining maintenance fees, courts consider factors like the length of a marriage, the financial resources of both parties, each spouse’s income, etc. Maintenance isn’t applied to every divorce, and it can be permanent or temporary. The ultimate goal of maintenance is to ensure fairness and mitigate economic disparities caused by a divorce.

How Can Brave Law, P.C. Help?

Whether contending with child support or maintenance fees, Brave Law Center, P.C. can provide experienced counsel. We’ve assisted spouses looking to collect fees, individuals struggling to make payments, and those trying to calculate appropriate costs for their unique situations. As such, Brave Law Center, P.C.’s attorneys provide support by:

• Assessing our client’s financial circumstances and determining potential child support and maintenance obligations.
• Providing clear explanations of relevant laws, state guidelines, and potential outcomes in child support and maintenance cases.
• Negotiating with the opposing party to reach fair and equitable agreements regarding support payments.
• Helping clients request modifications to payment terms when costs become too much for one spouse to support reasonably.
• Assisting clients in enforcing support orders when payments aren’t made, including filing the appropriate motions with the court.

Contact Brave Law Center, P.C.

Child support and maintenance payments are essential, whether you’re the one making or receiving them. No matter the side you’re on, to ensure support payments are handled fairly, count on the experienced family law professionals at Brave Law Center, P.C. To learn more about our family law services or additional legal practices or to schedule a reservation to discuss your case, call 309-685-7900. We serve clients throughout Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, Fulton, Mason and Marshall Counties.