Child Support Lawyer in DuPage County, IL
Protecting Children and Families. At Home in DuPage County.
When you’re navigating child support, getting the number right matters—and so does actually getting paid. Mulyk Laho Law is a women-owned family law firm based right here in DuPage County.
With 55 years of combined experience, our local child support lawyers help you calculate fair support, modify an existing agreement, or enforce the order if your ex falls behind on payment.
55 Years of Combined Experience
Services in English, Spanish, and Arabic
Fair and Transparent Billing
Free Attorney Consultation
Our DuPage County Child Support Attorneys
Rebecca A. Laho
Partner
Sharon R. Mulyk
Partner
Patrick P. Azer
Attorney
Caroline M. Smith
Attorney
Client Reviews
Child Support Calculation in DuPage County and Illinois
Illinois no longer bases child support on a flat percentage of one parent’s income. Under the current income shares model, the state instead looks at:
- Both parents’ combined net income
- The number of children involved
- A state-published schedule that estimates what those children would cost if both parents lived together
- Each parent’s proportional share of that combined income
That total obligation is then split between parents based on their share of the combined income, plus additional costs like health insurance premiums, childcare, and extraordinary expenses. When both parents share significant overnights with the children, the calculation adjusts to reflect that both households are covering everyday costs.
The exact math gets detailed quickly, which is exactly why so many parents in Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Naperville, Lombard, Carol Stream, and throughout DuPage County come to Mulyk Laho Law instead of relying on an online calculator.
Our child support attorneys are backed by forensic accountants and investigators to make sure all income is included and classified correctly. We take the time to listen, explain your rights and obligations in plain terms, and create a clear plan of action.
When Is Child Support Required?
Child support applies in more situations than people expect—not just divorce, but legal separation, as well as cases where parents were never married or never lived together at all.
Illinois calculates child support the same way regardless of your relationship history. What does change, however, is the legal process to get there.
- Parents who were never married typically need to establish paternity—either through a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity or a DNA test—before a court can enter a child support order.
- Divorcing and separating parents address child support as part of their existing case. Learn more about our DuPage County divorce services here.
As a full-service family law firm, Mulyk Laho Law helps local families navigate all of these situations. We have extensive experience in DuPage County’s 18th Circuit Court, and we’re easy to reach whenever you have questions about your case.
Lawyers for Non-Payment and Enforcement of Child Support
When one parent stops paying child support, it puts real strain on the parent who’s covering the day-to-day costs of raising kids. Our DuPage County child support lawyers help parents pursue the payments they’re owed, and Illinois gives you several tools to do it:
- Contempt Petitions: Asking the court to hold the non-paying parent accountable
- Income Withholding (Wage Garnishment): Having support deducted directly from the other parent’s paycheck
- License Suspension: Driver’s licenses and professional licenses can be suspended for significant arrears
- Tax Refund Interception: State and federal refunds can be redirected toward unpaid child support
Unpaid child support accumulates with interest, and the penalties only grow more serious the longer support goes unpaid. But none of that happens automatically.
If you’re not receiving the support you’re owed, don’t wait for the situation to resolve itself. The sooner we get involved, the sooner enforcement can begin.
Child Support Modification: Stopping Enforcement Actions
We also represent parents on the other side of the situation. If you’re facing enforcement action because of a genuine change in circumstances (e.g., job loss, lower income, or a medical issue), it’s typically best to modify your child support agreement, rather than building up more debt and potentially facing severe penalties.
Modifications can be retroactive, but only back to the date you file—so if you’ve lost income, filing quickly can save you a lot of money and stress.
At Mulyk Laho Law, we work to keep this kind of representation affordable without cutting corners on quality. Your first consultation is completely free, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Local DuPage County Lawyers
Glen Ellyn, IL
Our office is located in Glen Ellyn, IL, just 15 minutes down the road from the 18th Judicial Circuit Courthouse. We are your DuPage County neighbors—not a downtown firm treating the suburbs as an afterthought.
Wheaton, IL
Wheaton is the seat of DuPage County and home to the 18th Judicial Circuit Court, where virtually all DuPage County child support cases are heard. Our attorneys are in these courtrooms regularly, and our familiarity with local judges and procedures matters when your support order (or your ability to enforce one) is on the line.
Naperville, IL
Naperville straddles both DuPage and Will County, so which side of town you live on determines where your case is filed. Naperville also tends to bring more complex financials into the picture, which makes the income shares calculation more involved.
Your Local Courthouse
DuPage County Courthouse,
18th Judicial Circuit Court
505 N County Farm Rd
Wheaton, IL 60187
DuPage County Child Support FAQs
What's the process for obtaining child support in DuPage County, IL?
- The starting point depends on your situation. If you’re divorcing or legally separating in DuPage County, child support is addressed as part of that case. If you were never married, paternity has to be established before child support can be ordered—either through a paternity test or Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity.
- From there, both paths land in the Domestic Relations Division at the 18th Judicial Circuit Court in Wheaton, Illinois (just 15 minutes from our office in Glen Ellyn). This is where financial disclosures are exchanged, the income shares calculation is run, and (for contested cases) the court may direct parents toward mediation or parent education before a judge issues a final order.
- All filings go through DuPage County’s e-filing system rather than in person, so accurate paperwork upfront matters.
- Timelines vary quite a bit. An uncontested case with cooperative parents can be finalized in a matter of weeks, while contested income disputes or paternity questions can take several months to over a year.
What's the difference between alimony and child support?
In cases of divorce, alimony (called “spousal maintenance” under Illinois law) is separate from child support, but the two are closely connected. Spousal maintenance is calculated first, then that amount factors into each parent’s net income when the child support calculation is run.
Can parents agree to waive child support in DuPage County?
Illinois courts generally won’t approve an agreement that waives child support entirely, since the right to support belongs to the child, not the parents.
What if one parent is self-employed or has non-traditional income?
Non-traditional income, including self-employment income, bonuses, restricted stock options (RSUs), and income from investments, can complicate child support calculations. Our attorneys handle this regularly for families in DuPage County, where incomes tend to be higher than average. We work with forensic accountants and investigators to ensure all income is documented correctly.
Does child support end automatically at 18?
Generally, support continues until a child turns 18 or graduates high school, whichever is later. However, specific circumstances can extend or adjust that timeline.
Can child support or alimony agreements be modified?
Yes. Both child support and alimony (spousal maintenance) can be modified when circumstances substantially change. However, each requires its own separate petition—a modification to one doesn’t automatically change the other.
Can I pause child support payments if circumstances have changed?
Support is owed until a court changes the order, even if your income drops, you lose a job, or parenting time shifts. Pausing payments yourself just builds debt you’ll still owe later, with interest added on top. Enforcement actions can be severe, including wage garnishment, tax refund interference, and loss of your driver’s license or professional licenses.
If your circumstances have changed, the right move is usually to file for a modification quickly. Our DuPage County child support attorneys offer a free consultation, as well as affordable, high-quality legal services, so don’t hesitate to give us a call.
Talk to a DuPage County Child Support Lawyer
Our attorneys are ready to hear your story, explain your options clearly, and put our experience in DuPage County family courts to work on your behalf.
This call is free and confidential.