Child Support in Cook County, Illinois

You can expect child support cases in Cook County to follow Illinois’ “Income Shares” model. This system focuses on both parents’ income and aims to provide children with the same level of financial support they would receive if the parents lived together.

How Illinois Calculates Child Support

Since July 1, 2017, Illinois courts calculate child support using a structured process:

1. Calculate each parent’s net income
You start with gross income from all sources, then subtract allowed deductions such as:

  • Taxes (federal and state)
  • Social Security and Medicare (FICA)
  • Mandatory retirement contributions
  • Union dues
  • Health insurance premiums for the child
  • Court-ordered support payments

Illinois uses a standardized chart to help determine net income, though courts may adjust calculations in complex cases.

2. Combine both parents’ net income
You add both net incomes together to determine the total financial resources available to the child.

3. Find the basic child support obligation
Illinois uses a statutory schedule that links combined income and the number of children to a baseline support amount. This reflects what parents would typically spend on children in an intact household.

4. Divide the obligation between parents
Each parent pays a share based on their percentage of the combined income. For example, if one parent earns 60% of the total income, they pay 60% of the obligation.

Adjustments to the Basic Amount

Courts then adjust the support amount based on real-life parenting arrangements and expenses:

Shared parenting time:
If each parent has at least 146 overnights per year, the court increases the support calculation to account for two households, then offsets payments based on parenting time and income shares.

Additional expenses:
Courts also include and divide costs such as:

  • Childcare
  • Health insurance premiums
  • Extracurricular activities
  • Uninsured medical expenses

Important Factors in Cook County Cases

Child support calculations can become complex, especially when income varies or is hard to define. Courts also review cases where a parent appears underemployed or unemployed on purpose and may assign income based on earning potential.

Get the Right Guidance

Because these calculations can get complicated quickly, an experienced Cook County child support attorney can help you determine accurate income, apply the guidelines correctly, and ensure a fair outcome that supports your child’s best interests.