Does More Parenting Time Mean Lower Child Support in Illinois?

 Posted on October 15, 2025 in Child Support

Parenting time, commonly known as visitation, has an impact on child support in Illinois. However, the connection between the two is not always simple. The court follows a formula for calculating support and considers several factors specific to your situation when determining who pays and how much. If you are unsure how these laws apply to your situation, the Cook County, IL child support lawyers at The Law Office of George J. Skuros can help.

How Do Illinois Courts Determine Who Pays Child Support?

Illinois courts use Section 505 of the Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act to determine child support. This section provides guidelines for who pays and how much they have to pay. The parent who has less parenting time, often called the non-residential parent, usually pays support to the other parent. However, this does not mean that parents who share custody do not have to pay child support. It depends on the situation.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Illinois?

Illinois uses an "income shares" model to calculate the total support needed. This means the court looks at the combined income of both parents and divides the cost of raising the child based on how much each parent earns. If you take care of your child at least 146 nights per year, the court applies a shared parenting formula to determine how much a parent has to pay. This formula may reduce the amount of support owed because both parents are paying for a lot of the child’s expenses directly. Essentially, if you and your co-parent have similar incomes and a near 50/50 parenting time split, child support may not even be necessary.

Health insurance and childcare costs can also affect how much child support a parent owes. If one parent pays for these expenses directly, the court may reduce their support amount to reflect that contribution. Other financial responsibilities, such as spousal maintenance or other child support, can change the total amount owed. This is because the court considers your full financial situation. The main goal is to ensure that the child’s financial needs are met in both homes.

What Can I Do if I Do Not Agree With the Child Support Order?

If you believe your child support order is unfair, 750 ILCS 5/510 allows you to ask the court to review or change it. Either parent can request a modification if there has been a "substantial change in circumstances." This could include losing a job, getting a raise, or changing how parenting time is shared.

You can also ask for a review if you think there was a mistake in the income or parenting time calculations. However, until the court approves a change, the parent ordered to pay must keep paying. Not paying can result in serious consequences.

If both parents agree on new terms, you can file a joint request to modify the order. This can make the process faster and less stressful.

Contact a Chicago, IL Child Support Attorney for a Free Consultation

At The Law Office of George J. Skuros, we focus on helping you understand your legal issues so you can make confident and informed decisions. We believe in setting realistic expectations while fighting for the best possible results. Our team also focuses on practical, personal solutions that fit your family’s unique needs and goals.

We have over 30 years of legal experience helping Cook County families resolve child support and parenting time disputes. Call 312-884-1222 today to contact our Cook County, IL child support lawyers. Schedule a free consultation, and we will talk about how we can help you reach a fair support order.