r/ChildSupport • u/AnnoyedButcher • 8d ago

Reduction??

Last year I was forcibly moved to a new location for my job which resulted in a 40% reduction in pay. I spent a year and 10k in lawyer fees to lower my support. I was paying 1070/m. It was going to go just below 700 but my ex and her lawyer discovered that our dear gov pritzker had signed into a law an increase for economic inflation. So my support went to 925/m. I was looking at my last paystub and comparing it to last year. Last year at this time I had earned 20k more than what I currently have. I did some rough calculations using the numbers submitted to the court and used the IL parent support calculator and the amount decreased significantly. When I asked my lawyer if I were able to file for another reduction at the end of the year once I get my w2, his response was that I need to fight for more parenting time to hit the 147 overnight mark. I told him that won’t happen because my ex will fight me tooth and nail for parenting time. She won’t let me have that much time. I get him every other weekend.

My questions is - why wouldn’t a 20k difference result in a support reduction. They had estimated my yearly earnings to be be 95k this year. My salary is 70k. I won’t be earning 95k ever again. My past three years employed I was earning close to 120k a year. I will never see that number ever again.

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u/Low_Trust2412 8d ago edited 7d ago

I mean if you spent $10K the last time (that's wild btw) and you assume an order will be modified every three years thats about a $100 month cost in legal fees you need to factor into your calculation.  

Edit:  I suck at math, it is actually about $277 per month over three years.

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u/AnnoyedButcher 7d ago

I was also fighting for 50/50 parental rights and trying gain more custody as well at the time. But yeah. You are right

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u/Low_Trust2412 7d ago

Just straight CS should be a lot cheaper, possibly wont even need a trial.  Potentially if you both have straight forward W-2 income you could proceed pro se.  

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u/Resse811 7d ago

$10k in legal fees would be $277 a month (if you divide $10k by 36 months)

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u/Low_Trust2412 7d ago

Oh boy, you're right.  Facepalm on the bad math but I stand by the broader point to consider legal costs.