Taxes are done, snow is gone, graduations are upon us and this is a time for child support to end and post high school expenses to begin. Now is a good time to call your attorney for a check-up.
Tax returns and income documents? Double check your Judgment to determine if you are required to do so. If there has been a substantial change in circumstances, it may be advisable to update the calculation. Current guidelines of income shares and shared parenting time are NOT a substantial change to warrant a change in support alone, but there may be other changes that you have not considered.
High school graduations? It may be time for a change in child support. Do not assume that since your child has graduated or turned 18 that your support obligation is terminated. It is most likely that you will need a court order to terminate or reduce child support.
College? Illinois statute provides for both parents to contribute to their children’s college educational expenses ad support. Even if a child is going to a local college, there may be an obligation for one parent to contribute to the support expenses of the other parent.
Summer vacation? You do not have to go away on a vacation to exercise summer parenting time. I strongly urge parents to spend as many chunks of uninterrupted time with children without back and forth and summer is the perfect time to do that.
Weddings? Give as much notice as you can so your kids can enjoy weddings with you.
Uniform Transfers to Minors Accounts? Do you have accounts with a parent as the custodian while a child is a minor. Check the balances and move to your children when they turn 21 – not 18 as many believe.
Wakeman Law Group
741 S. McHenry Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.893.6800