How Long Do Child Support Payments Last in Illinois?

 Posted on December 30, 2024 in Child Support

After a divorce in Illinois, you may be responsible for continued child support payments. Depending on your family’s circumstances, you might be paying for longer than you think. If you have any concerns about how child support will be allocated, a skilled Wheaton, IL family law attorney can give you an honest assessment of your circumstances and advise you during key decisions in a divorce. 

Davi Law Group has experience handling complex divorce issues and we are prepared to advocate for your financial interests with regard to child support. Attorney Dion U. Davi has been practicing family law for over 20 years, focused on providing effective legal solutions to his clients.

High School Graduation or Adulthood

In most cases, child support in Illinois is terminated when a child turns 18. However, if a child is still in high school by the time he or she turns 18, child support payments will persist until graduation or by age 19, whichever comes first. At that point, the child is considered emancipated by state law, deemed financially independent, and responsible for his or her own decisions.

College Expenses

Not all orders of child support stop at the age of emancipation. A judge may opt to require parents to pay for college expenses, which can cover costs related to tuition, supplies for classes, room and board, and transportation. This support can last up until the attainment of a Bachelor’s degree, and not past the child’s 25th birthday under any circumstances. Support may also be terminated if the child marries before attaining his or her degree. Furthermore, continued financial support for a non-minor child may depend on the child meeting certain conditions, like full-time enrollment or staying above a certain grade point average.

Physical or Mental Disability

If a profound disability threatens a non-minor child’s ability to live independently, child support payments could continue indefinitely after the child turns 18. A judge may take into account conditions such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, schizophrenia, autism, and blindness when making a determination regarding non-minor support. Rather than Illinois’ standard formula for child support, payment amounts for support of a disabled non-minor child will factor in the child’s eligibility for government assistance, the parents’ incomes, and other factors contributing to the financial situation of both parents.

Overdue Payments

In the event that a parent simply refuses to pay child support, he or she can be held responsible for payments well after the child turns 18. If you need help holding your co-parent accountable for past-due child support payments, Davi Law Group can help enforce a judge’s order.

Meet With a DuPage County, IL Divorce Lawyer

Caring for a child as a single parent comes with financial hardship. A Wheaton, IL child support attorney at Davi Law Group can represent your child support concerns in front of a judge, making sure that your rights are protected in a court of family law. We are also able to help with modifications to child support orders if you experience a sudden change in your finances. To schedule a free consultation with our firm, call us at 630-657-5052 today.