Child Support

When you hire Fortunato, Knobbe, Davenport & Arnold to defend your interests, you can be confident that a solution to your problem is at hand. The experienced family law attorneys at Fortunato, Knobbe, Davenport & Arnold are here to listen, provide knowledgeable legal advice, and to offer effective help in these deeply distressing personal situations. Our knowledgeable attorneys are intimately familiar with the extremely complex issues of Illinois child support laws. We are persuasive negotiators and strive to reach a just and fair agreement between our client and their spouse whenever possible. If an acceptable agreement cannot be reached, we vigorously pursue and protect your rights in court.

Child support is available under Illinois law during a child's minority (until age 18). If a child is otherwise emancipated prior to age 18, child support would end at that time. There are also three situations in which child support can run past 18:

• · If a child is enrolled in high school and has not graduated by age 18, the child support will continue until age 20 or graduation from school, whichever comes first.
• · The second exception covers a written agreement, signed by the parent, to pay support past age 18.
• · The final exception to the rule that child support ends when the child is no longer a minor is made for a child who, after the age of 18, remains mentally or physically incapable of self-support, such as a child who needs long-term care. In this situation, the child support obligation under Illinois law exists for as long as the child is incapable of self-support.
• Child support orders may be modified to meet the changing circumstances of the children and either spouse. Fortunato, Knobbe, Davenport & Arnold will negotiate with your spouse or their attorney on your behalf if you want to change your child support order. If a fair agreement cannot be negotiated in light of changed circumstances, our seasoned attorneys will vigorously pursue a modification of the child support order on your behalf in court.

A child support order can be enforced against parents who fail to pay court ordered child support payments. If you desire the help of an attorney in collecting your child support, we will counsel and represent you in legal action to enforce your child support order.

Fortunato, Knobbe, Davenport & Arnold are capable and experienced Illinois Family Law attorneys ready to answer your child support questions. Let us help you resolve these stressful and confidential matters with the knowledge, experience and personal attention you need.