Maintenance Calculator Illinois

Calculate estimated monthly child maintenance payments in Illinois.

Understanding Illinois Child Maintenance Calculations

Illinois law requires parents to financially support their children. When parents do not live together, one parent may be ordered to pay child maintenance (formerly known as child support) to the other parent. The amount of maintenance is typically determined by a statutory formula, considering the incomes of both parents and the number of children involved.

The Illinois Income Shares Model

Illinois utilizes the "Income Shares" model. This model is based on the idea that a child should receive the same proportion of parental income that they would have received if the parents lived together. The calculation involves several steps:

• Determine Net Income: The first step is to calculate each parent's net monthly income. This is generally their gross income minus specific taxes and deductions (like Social Security, Medicare, and mandatory retirement contributions).
• Combine Incomes: The net monthly incomes of both parents are added together to determine their combined net monthly income.
• Apply Income Shares Schedule: Illinois has an Income Shares Schedule that provides a basic support obligation amount based on the combined net monthly income and the number of children.
• Apportion the Obligation: The basic support obligation is then divided between the parents in proportion to their respective net incomes. The parent who has the children primarily living with them is generally the recipient of maintenance, while the other parent is the payor.

Calculation Formula Used in This Calculator

This calculator provides an *estimated* monthly maintenance payment using a simplified approach based on the Illinois Income Shares model for cases where one parent is the primary caregiver and the other pays support.

Formula Overview:

1. Total Net Income: `TotalNetIncome = YourNetMonthlyIncome + OtherIncome + (OtherParentNetMonthlyIncome)`
2. Your Percentage of Income: `YourIncomePercentage = (YourNetMonthlyIncome + OtherIncome) / TotalNetIncome`
3. Basic Support Obligation: The calculator uses a lookup table (simplified for this example) based on the Combined Net Monthly Income and the Number of Children to find the BasicSupportObligation.
4. Your Share of Obligation: `YourShare = YourIncomePercentage * BasicSupportObligation`

Note: The Income Shares Schedule can be complex and often has an income cap. This calculator uses simplified estimations and does not incorporate all potential adjustments or factors.

Factors Not Explicitly Included

While this calculator provides a good starting point, actual maintenance orders can be influenced by numerous other factors, including:

• Parenting Time: Significant overnight parenting time by the non-custodial parent can sometimes lead to adjustments.
• Special Needs of the Child: Extraordinary medical expenses or educational needs.
• Standard of Living: The lifestyle the child would have enjoyed if the parents remained together.
• Other Financial Obligations: Such as pre-existing support orders for other children.
• Income of the Child: If the child has income.

Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Calculating child maintenance involves intricate legal guidelines and specific factual circumstances. Always consult with a qualified Illinois family law attorney to understand your rights and obligations regarding child maintenance.