25% of children in America live in single-parent households.
Custodial mothers are 2.5 times more likely to live below federal poverty guidelines than custodial fathers.
Only 39% of custodial fathers have child support awarded to them.
Each year more than 10 billion dollars of child support owed to custodial parents is never paid.
Chicago, Illinois, Child Support Lawyer
If you are seeking an experienced child support attorney or child support modification lawyer, contact the Law Offices of Annette M. Fernholz, P.C., for a free phone consultation. Our law firm is adept at counseling parents who wish the best for their children and want them to have the financial resources they need. Based in Chicago, Illinois, our law firm serves parents throughout Chicagoland in establishing fair and reasonable child support payment plans that cover the basic needs of their kids.
Child Support - An Overview
Enforcing the obligation to pay child support is a national priority. Federal legislation and state laws exist to make enforcement and collection of child support easier. Each state has particular guidelines for establishing child support and there are various methods to recover the support you are owed. If you are ending a marriage, are already divorced or are trying to hold your child's other parent legally responsible, it is important to consult with a family law attorney.
Contact a family law attorney in your area to learn more about your state's child support laws. He or she can review your child support matter and help you find the best solution to meet your child's needs.
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Modifying Child Support
Child support orders can be modified to meet changed needs in the parents' or child's life. Either parent can petition the court for a modification. The court will then determine whether there has been a significant and material change in circumstances either concerning the child's needs or the payor parent's ability to financially meet his or her obligations.
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Enforcing Child Support Orders
Parents must meet their child support obligations. Those who do not pay, pay less than required or pay sporadically may be subject to contempt proceedings, fines and even jail time.
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When Do Child Support Obligations End?
Many factors are taken into account in determining when child support payments will end. In some situations, it is as simple as the child reaching the age of majority. In others, payments may not end until the child has graduated from college.
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Child Support and Taxes
Taxes can be reduced by allowed deductions and exemptions. Deductions reduce the amount of taxable income, and exemptions reduce the adjusted gross income, such as standard withholding or dependency exemptions. If you pay child support or receive it, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has a strict set of rules in place to control the deductions and exemptions that you are allowed because of the payment or receipt of child support. Often, the terms of your divorce decree and related agreements will control the extent to which any tax offsets are available.
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