Is Daycare Included in Child Support in Illinois?

daycare costs

Most families have two working parents these days, and that often means that daycare costs are now an important part of most budgets. If you get a divorce, those costs are still going to be there. So does this mean that child support will be calculated with daycare costs in mind? Not necessarily. A Tazewell County child support lawyer can tell you what you need to know while you fight for what your child deserves.

How is Child Support Calculated?

Judges in Illinois calculate child support using a formula that takes into account the incomes of both parents. The goal is to make sure that both parents are contributing a certain proportion of their income toward childcare expenses. Calculations can also be affected by how many days a child spends with each parent and whether there is a clear custodial parent or if there is a split custody arrangement.

What doesn’t change is that daycare costs are not directly considered when child support is calculated. So whether this is a new expense or you have had your child enrolled in a daycare program for years, the cost of it is going to be separate.

Is Daycare Included in Child Support Payments?

A non-custodial parent is probably not going to be able to pay their child support and then say that their obligations are done. These daycare costs are completely separate and need to be handled separately. The non-custodial parent can choose to pay the bills directly or reimburse their spouse, but they are going to have to contribute to this childcare expense in some way.

What Should I Do With Daycare Payments?

It’s important for both parents to keep proper track of the daycare payments made and to have their own say in which provider gets chosen. If you are the noncustodial parent and the one making payments, you should make sure that you pay with a check or get a receipt for every payment you make. This is a good idea whether you are paying your former spouse or making direct payments to the daycare provider. You want to be able to show that you are following a court order and making good on your obligations.

If you are the custodial parent, you should also do your best to keep track of each payment made to you. If your former spouse is reimbursing you for daycare costs after you have paid, send any bills to them promptly. Waiting too long and letting bills pile up could make it harder to collect.

Talk to Our Legal Team

When you are going through a divorce, you need a strong advocate on your side to help you fight for the best possible outcomes. Our lawyers can help you negotiate fair child support agreements and deal with anything else that comes up during divorce proceedings. So contact Butler, Giraudo & Meister, P.C. and schedule a consultation with our team today.

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