Beginning in 2017, both the non-custodial and the custodial parents’ earnings will now be taken into account when factoring child support. This new approach explores the entire financial picture available to support the children instead of using a pre-determined percentage of the non-custodial parent’s income.

This approach appears to be in response to the growing trend of providing more equalized parent time. Long gone are the days where mothers had nearly exclusive parenting time with the children and fathers only saw their children every other weekend. Nowadays, the tendency is for both parents to have significant periods of parenting time with the children. And in many instances there is a 50/50 split between parties for parenting time. It is almost without question that an equal division of parenting time is in the best interest of the children and, therefore, it is recommended by attorneys and the courts alike. Because of this shift in division of parenting time, it was necessary to consider a shift in the financial responsibility of the parties as well.

Recently, House Bill 3982 was proposed and, subsequently, approved and signed by Governor Rauner. This act goes into effect July 1, 2017 and breaks with the percentage child support model currently used in Illinois. The percentage child support model is based almost exclusively on the non-custodial parent’s earnings. House Bill 3982, will have Illinois adopt the income shares model. This will bring Illinois into the company of a majority of other states that already use such model in factoring child support.

You can read the full text of the Bill here.

Considering these significant changes on the horizon, it is important to have a knowledgeable attorney to assist you with your child support matter. Please call Pucher & Ranucci, P.C. for a consultation today.