This is not a niche concern. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the national child support program served 12.2 million children in fiscal year 2024, roughly one in six children in the country. That scale reflects just how many families face these same questions. 

Illinois law provides a clear framework for calculating child support in most cases, but the details can be surprisingly complicated. A Wheaton, IL child support attorney at Smit Zaruba P.C. can help you understand what to expect.

How Illinois Calculates Child Support Using the Income Shares Model

Illinois uses what is called the income shares model to set child support. Under 750 ILCS 5/505 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, the court looks at both parents' incomes, not just the paying parent's. ]]> Child Support 2026-05-24 00:00:00 https://www.dupagedivorceattorneys.com/blog/who-gets-what-understanding-property-division-in-an-illinois-divorce https://www.dupagedivorceattorneys.com/blog/who-gets-what-understanding-property-division-in-an-illinois-divorce When you file for divorce in Illinois, one of your most pressing questions is probably what happens to your property. Who keeps the house? What about retirement savings? According to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 672,000 divorces were recorded across the United States in 2023, and for most of those couples, figuring out who keeps what is one of the hardest parts. If you have questions in 2026, a Wheaton, IL property division attorney can help you understand what Illinois law requires.

Does Illinois Split Marital Assets 50/50?

Illinois does not automatically split everything in half. Instead, the state follows equitable distribution. Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, 750 ILCS 5/503, a court divides marital property in a way that is fair, given the facts of the marriage. Fair does not always mean equal, and the outcome depends on your specific situation.]]> Property Division 2026-04-21 00:00:00 https://www.dupagedivorceattorneys.com/blog/how-is-child-custody-decided-in-illinois https://www.dupagedivorceattorneys.com/blog/how-is-child-custody-decided-in-illinois If you are going through a divorce or separation in Illinois and have children, one of the first things on your mind is probably child custody. Illinois no longer uses "custody" as the main legal term in most cases. Instead, the law focuses on parenting time and the allocation of parental responsibilities. What exactly do these terms mean, and how are they handled in difficult custody cases? Our experienced Wheaton child custody attorney explains. 

Why Did Illinois Stop Using the Word "Custody"?

In 2016, Illinois updated its family law under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/602.5 and 750 ILCS 5/602.7). The law replaced "custody" and "visitation" with two separate ideas: allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. This was not just a name change. The new framework gives courts better tools to divide parenting roles in a way that fits each family, rather than forcing every situation into a winner-take-all arrangement.]]> Child Custody 2026-03-27 00:00:00