How does child support work?

I won’t be employed for another 3ish months since I’m having a c section and couldn’t work due to complications. Will I be denied child support if I’m not working and should wait until I am?

Show your support

I’m not sure how it works where your from but you will not they will base it off your last form of income

@Nya thank you for responding! I’m in Illinois. I looked for some info but couldn’t really find the answers I’m looking for. I just wasn’t sure if they’d give him custody if I weren’t employed and asking for child support

I did some googling for you: To initiate child support, a legal order must be established. This can be done through: 1. Court Action: Filing a petition in court to determine child support obligations. 2. Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS): Applying for assistance to establish an administrative order for child support. https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/getting-child-support-basics-0

https://hfs.illinois.gov/childsupport/parents/faqsnew.html

Illinois uses the Income Shares Model to calculate child support, which considers the combined income of both parents and estimates the amount they would spend on their child if they lived together. This amount is then divided proportionally based on each parent’s income. Typically, child support obligations in Illinois continue until the child turns 18. If the child is still in high school at 18, support extends until graduation or the child’s 19th birthday, whichever comes first. Payments are generally made through the Illinois State Disbursement Unit (SDU), which processes and distributes child support payments. Employers may be required to withhold child support from the paying parent’s wages through income withholding orders.

You can’t get child support until the child is born and paternity has been established if you’re not married. And specifically in your state you CANNOT be denied of child support no matter your employment status.

@S. annalese tysm!!! That makes me feel better. We have a 1 year old and I’m about to give birth to his second soon. The thought of going to court just seems so overwhelming but I need to do something as he has gotten less and less involved!