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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Child Support Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

What are child support guidelines?

Child support guidelines are required by law to be used to determine the amount usually awarded for support of minor children when parents do not reside together.

What is the guidelines model Illinois uses now?

Illinois transitioned from the Percentage of Obligor Net Income model to the Income Shares model on July 1, 2017.

What is the Income Shares Guidelines Model?

The Income Shares Guidelines Model for determining child support is used in most U.S. states making it the most commonly used method today. Income Shares is based on a table that uses economic data to determine the amount that parents who reside together spend on the needs of their child or children per combined family income and family size. The method then determines the proportional amount each parent should contribute to their child or children when the parents do not reside together.

Why does Illinois review child support guidelines every four years?

Federal regulations  45 C.F.R. § 302.56 and 42 U.S.C. § 667 require that States review their guidelines every four years, that the review includes an analysis of deviations from the guidelines, and that the review considers economic data on the cost of child rearing.

When was the last 4-year review completed, and when will the next review be conducted?

The most recent guidelines review was completed in 2022. The next one will be completed in 2026.