How Is Child Support Decided When There Are Multiple Mothers?

How Is Child Support Decided When There Are Multiple Mothers?

By: Gordon & Perlut, LLC

Court-ordered child support in Illinois helps to protect the standard of living for children whose parents are divorced or unmarried. It ensures they have the food, clothing, medical care, and other items they need, which is often impossible to adequately provide for on one income alone.

Illinois state laws dictate how much each parent pays.

If you are wondering about cases involving child support payments to multiple mothers, you would not be alone. Our Chicago child support attorneys at Gordon & Perlut, LLC. can explain how the state decides what is a fair and reasonable amount in these situations.

Calculating Child Support Payments In Illinois

With the high costs of housing and other basic necessities, ensuring children have what they need is hard enough with two incomes. It is almost impossible when one parent is forced to shoulder this burden alone. Under the Illinois Statutes (750 ILCS 5/505), there are multiple factors the court will consider in determining a fair amount in regards to child support payments in Illinois. These include:

• The amount of time the child spends in each parent’s home
• Their overall needs and expenses
• Each parent’s current income or earning capacity, if not currently working
• Other family obligations they have

In Cook County Court child support proceedings, the number of other children you have and the total number of mothers involve are important factors to consider. The goal is to ensure all your children are provided for.

Child Support Spread Among Multiple Families

Illinois follows what is referred to as an ‘income shares’ formula in determining fair and reasonable arrangements regarding child support. It relies on pre-established tables based on each parent’s earnings and income to determine a percentage of child support that must be paid. These tables look at net income, rather than gross income. This means that each parent’s earnings are adjusted to reflect other financial obligations, including other children that must be provided for.

The income shares model can be confusing for the average parent, particularly if there are multiple mothers involved. The Illinois Department of Health Care and Family Services offers a child support estimator, which makes it somewhat easier to gauge how much you might have to pay. It details factors that influence court-ordered child support amounts, such as:

• The number of children that support must be provided for
• Which parent is responsible for the majority of parenting time
• The amount of overnight and extended visits you have with each child
• Giving credit in calculations when there are already other child support Orders for other mothers
• Your own and each mother’s gross and net income
• Whether any spousal support is paid/received
• Who is providing for costs such as medical expenses and daycare for each child
• Whether anyone receives Social Security benefits

Our Chicago Child Support Lawyers Are Here To Help

Numerous factors go into determining child support. It can be very confusing, particularly when multiple mothers are involved. To avoid paying more than your fair share, reach out to Gordon & Perlut, LLC. Our Chicago child support lawyers are here to help. Call our office to request a consultation today.