“The court, in its discretion, in addition to the basic child support obligation, may order either or both parents owing a duty of support to the child to contribute to the reasonable child care expenses of the child. The child care expenses shall be made payable directly to a party or directly to the child care provider at the time of child care services.”
750 ILCS § 5/505 (a)(3.7)
In Illinois, extra child care expenses are divided between parents based on their incomes to ensure fair contributions from both sides. Here is how it works:
Step One – Determine Net Income
First, calculate each parent’s net income. This is the income left after necessary deductions like taxes, Social Security, and mandatory retirement contributions are taken out.
Step Two – Calculate Each Parent’s Share
Next, figure out each parent’s percentage of the combined net income. For example, if one parent earns 60% of the total net income and the other earns 40%, the child care costs will be divided 60/40 accordingly.
Step Three – Court Orders and Agreements
The court may issue an order detailing how these expenses should be split. Alternatively, parents can come to an agreement on their own and include it in their parenting plan or child support order.
Step Four – Documentation and Payment
Both parents should keep detailed records of all child care expenses and payments. This helps maintain transparency and can be useful if any disputes arise or if there’s a need to adjust the child support order in the future.
Step Five – Adjustments for Changes in Income
If either parent’s income changes significantly, they can request a modification of the child support order. The court will then recalculate the division of child care expenses based on the updated incomes.
By dividing additional child care expenses according to each parent’s income, Illinois courts ensure that both parents contribute fairly. Keeping clear records and being open to modifications when circumstances change helps manage these costs effectively and ensures the child’s needs are met. If you need help with pursuing or defending your Illinois child support lawsuit please click the link below contact our Chicago office and speak with one of our experienced family law attorneys https://jacobsonlegalservices.com/!
