Modifying child support in Cook County

 Posted on September 16, 2013 in Family Law

Child support modification can be extremely tricky to navigate. In general, a parent attempting to change child support payments must show a "substantial change in circumstances" in order to modify a child support payment schedule.

Cook County courts have a extremely broad latitude in determining whether there is a substantial change in circumstances to support the modification of child support.

Traditionally, to establish a change in circumstances, a support-paying parent would have to show that there was a significant change in their income and also an increase in the needs of the children involved.

Illinois courts are more flexible in modifying child support however, and modifications are possible even when a noncustodial parent's income hasn't changed.

Substantial changes in circumstances can include:

• Remarriage of either parents
• Child reaching the age of 18
• Medical issues or other special needs that a child develops
• Significant increase and decrease in either parent's income

When a court finds that a substantial change in circumstances has occurred, it will consider the same factors that went into determining the original payment amounts.