Child Support Lawyer in Will County, IL
Protecting Will County Families
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 serving Will County families throughout Joliet, Plainfield, and the surrounding area.
With 55 years of combined experience, our 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 Will 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 Will 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
Will County brings its own wrinkle to that math. A large share of the families we represent here work in shift-based or hourly jobs—warehousing, logistics, manufacturing, and trades—rather than drawing a flat salary. Overtime, irregular shifts, and seasonal changes all have to be documented and factored in correctly, or the resulting support number won’t reflect what a parent is actually earning.
Business ownership, equity compensation, and investment accounts can also complicate child support matters, and these situations are just as common for Will County families.
Our child support attorneys are backed by forensic accountants and investigators to make sure all income—including overtime, bonuses, and irregular hours—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 Will County’s 12th Judicial Circuit Court (covering Joliet, Bolingbrook, Plainfield, Naperville, and more), 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. Illinois gives parents several tools to pursue payments they’re owed:
- Income Withholding (Wage Garnishment): Having support deducted directly from the other parent’s paycheck
- Contempt Petitions: Asking the court to hold the non-paying parent accountable
- 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
Many Will County parents work traditional payroll jobs in warehousing, manufacturing, and trades, which means wage garnishment is often one of the fastest and most effective tools available.
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, a reduction in overtime or hours, or a medical issue), filing for a modification is the only way to adjust what you owe going forward.
Modifications only apply from 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.
Serving Families Throughout Will County
Our attorneys—based in nearby Glen Ellyn—have deep courtroom experience in Will County and the surrounding communities, and we take the time to guide you through every step of the process.
Joliet, IL
As the county seat and home to the 12th Judicial Circuit Court, Joliet is where virtually all Will County child support cases are filed and heard. Our attorneys appear there regularly and know its judges, schedules, and procedural expectations.
Bolingbrook, IL
Bolingbrook is one of the most ethnically and economically diverse communities in Illinois. Our multilingual services and experience across the full range of child support matters make us a natural fit for families here.
Plainfield, IL
Plainfield has grown rapidly over the past two decades, and with that growth comes a wave of parents establishing a child support order for the first time—often alongside a divorce or separation, but just as often on their own. We walk parents through exactly what to expect.
Naperville, IL
Naperville consistently ranks among the highest household incomes in Illinois, and child support cases here frequently involve dual high incomes, stock compensation, and business ownership, all of which complicate the income shares calculation. Our team makes sure that calculation reflects what a parent actually earns.
Your Local Courthouses
Will County Courthouse,
12th Judicial Circuit Court
100 West Jefferson Street
Joliet, IL 60432
The primary courthouse where most Will County cases are filed and heard.
River Valley Justice Center
3200 West McDonough Street
Joliet, IL 60431
Will County Child Support FAQs
What's the process for obtaining child support in Will County, IL?
- The starting point depends on your situation. If you’re divorcing or legally separating in Will 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 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Joliet. 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.
- 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.
Where are child support cases filed in Will County?
Child support cases in Will County are filed and heard at the 12th Judicial Circuit Court in Joliet, in the Domestic Relations Division. This applies whether support is part of a divorce, a legal separation, or a standalone paternity case—Joliet is the courthouse for all of it.
If you live in a town that straddles county lines, like Naperville, Bolingbrook, or Tinley Park, which side of town you’re on determines whether your case is filed in Will County or a neighboring county. Our child support lawyers are based in Glen Ellyn and serve clients throughout Will, DuPage, Cook, Kendall, and Kane Counties.
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 Will 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 works overtime, seasonal hours, or is self-employed?
Irregular income—including overtime, seasonal schedules, business ownership, investment accounts, and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)—can complicate child support calculations. Our child support lawyers handle all of these situations regularly for Will County’s diverse workforce.
We work with forensic accountants and investigators to make sure income is documented accurately, whether that means proving income is higher than a pay stub suggests or accounting for genuine, verifiable swings in hours.
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 Will 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 Will County Child Support Lawyer
Our attorneys are ready to hear your story, explain your options clearly, and put our experience in Will County family courts to work on your behalf.
This call is free and confidential.