How Does the COVID-19 Affect Child Support in Illinois?

 Posted on April 07, 2020 in Child Support

The Coronavirus Pandemic has created a financial crisis for many families throughout Illinois. Workers have already been laid off or faced severe reductions in hours.  New unemployment claims in Illinois increased by 178,000, or 1,833% for the week ending March 28, 2020, from the same week one year earlier. Many families in Illinois will struggle to pay their ordinary and necessary living expenses including rent, mortgage, and other bills.  This financial hardship will be especially difficult for divorced or divorcing parents in Illinois to pay their court ordered child support. 

In Illinois, child support and the modification of child support are governed by the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.  Under the Act, once entered by a court, child support orders continue and remain in effect even though you may not be financially able to pay your child support.  To mitigate economic harm as much as possible, payors of child support must take immediate action to file a motion for the modification of child support upon the occurrence of substantial change of circumstance including, unemployment, reduction of income or other substantial change in ability to pay child support.  In Illinois, modifications of child support are retroactive to the date the moving party filed and served notice of the motion to modify child support to the other parent.

If you have experienced a substantial change of circumstance including, unemployment, reduction of income or other substantial change in ability to pay child support,  please call the law offices of A. Traub & Associates today to speak with an experienced family law attorney to discuss the modification of child support.