How to Calculate Child Support Payments in Illinois
- 1). Add up all of your monthly income. This includes wages and self-employment income, pension income, unemployment benefits and disability benefits. If you own real estate that you rent out, your gross income includes monthly profits after you pay mortgage and expenses. Illinois law is silent as to whether or not you have to include loans and financial help you receive from family members; there's nothing in the state's legislation that says you have to include it, although some judges will.
- 2). Subtract all allowable monthly expenses from your total gross income, such as federal, state and Social Security taxes taken out of your wages. If you have to pay union dues to work, you can deduct them. You can also deduct contributions to a retirement plan if they are mandatory and your employer doesn't give you any say in the matter. If you're self-employed, you can deduct some costs of operation. You can also deduct a portion of student loans. However, these deductions will probably come under some scrutiny by the court. Consult an attorney to find out exactly how much is permissible in your case if you want to use these deductions.
- 3). Deduct from your net income--the difference between your gross income and your allowable deductions--any health insurance premiums you pay for your child's coverage. If you have a family policy, calculate how much of the premium is attributable to your child. It might also be possible to deduct insurance payments you make for other dependents. Talk to a lawyer to find out how much more might be allowable. Subtract any other child support payments you are making for children from another relationship. If you are paying alimony, you can usually deduct this as well.
- 4). Calculate a percentage of the final number you arrive after all deductions. If you have one child, your child support payment is 20 percent of this number. If you have two children, it is 28 percent. If you have three, it is 32 percent. Four children require 40 percent of your net income after all deductions, five require 45 percent, and if you have six children or more, your child support obligation will be half your net income after you've made all permissible deductions.
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