In Illinois, a person going through a divorce may have to pay maintenance, or spousal support, to their former spouse. There are several types of maintenance awards issued in the state, including temporary, rehabilitative and reviewable. Numerous factors are taken into account when the courts are determining the amount and duration of payments.
Maintenance payments in Illinois
Divorce and separation in Illinois
The main purpose of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act is to promote the cordial settlement of disputes and minimize the harm that could be done to family members by the legal process of dissolving a marriage. It also seeks to facilitate maximum cooperation and involvement of both parents in regard to the well-being of children throughout the divorce process. According to the Act, divorce proceedings will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of civil practice law.
The process of adopting a child
Some Illinois residents may be interested in learning more about adoption procedures in the state. Adoption is a procedure in which the rights and responsibilities of a child's birth parents are transferred to an adopting party. After the process has been completed, the child in question is issued a new birth certificate and his or her original stored in a sealed file.
Child custody hearings
Illinois has specific child custody laws that apply to someone who is seeking enforcement of orders issued in other states or of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. The courts have a duty to enforce the Hague Convention or out-of-state child custody orders.
How much child support will I have to pay in Illinois?
Before a non-custodial parent is ordered to make child support payments, the court must determine how much the parent will be obligated to pay using the Illinois Statutory Guidelines. According to the guidelines, the amount to be paid each month is based on the non-custodial parent's net income and the number of children for which that parent is responsible.
