Illinois Family Law Insider
All about navigating Family Law in Illinois — your trusted source for expert answers on divorce, child custody, support calculations, and all family legal matters. Each episode features Managing Partner Katie Vandeusen having meaningful conversations with our seasoned attorneys who break down complex issues into practical guidance.
We exclusively focus on Illinois family law, translating complicated statutes and procedures into clear, actionable information. Our discussions address the real concerns faced by Illinois families, providing insights whether you're in the midst of a legal situation or simply want to understand your rights.
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Illinois Family Law Insider
Illinois Child Support: Your Rights When You Were Never Married - #83
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If you were never married to your child's other parent in Illinois, you might assume child support works differently for you. It doesn't.
In this episode, we break down the paternity gate, how the formula actually works, the two paths to get a formal order, and what happens when parents try to handle support informally.
We talk about:
- Why no Illinois court can enter a child support order until legal parentage is established — and the three ways to establish it
- How the Income Shares Model works: both parents' net incomes combined, proportional shares, and the 146-overnight shared parenting threshold
- The two paths to a support order: court vs. HFS administrative
- Why informal payments are unrecorded, unenforceable, and leave both parents exposed
If you need to establish paternity and get a child support order in place, call Sterling Lawyers at (312) 778-5711 or visit sterlinglawyers.com to schedule a consultation.