In Illinois, What Expenses Are Covered by Child Support?

 Posted on April 15, 2026 in Divorce

When parents of minor children choose to end their marriage through a divorce or a legal separation, a child support Order is typically entered by the court to ensure that the children’s financial needs are being met. In Illinois, the law provides clear guidelines on how child support is calculated. These guidelines provide for what is known as a "basic child support obligation"; however, not every child’s needs are the same, and so sometimes additional expenses need to be addressed.

Our experienced Hillside, IL family law attorney can explain to parents how much child support is appropriate based on their specific circumstances. If you are going through a divorce in 2026, or you are already paying child support and are wondering if you can modify the court order, call the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C..

What Does Basic Child Support Cover in Illinois?

In Illinois, the basic child support obligation is governed by 750 ILCS 5/505 and is designed to cover the essential needs of the child. Every parent has an obligation to support their child financially.

Child support payments are calculated based on the incomes of both parents and the number of children being supported. In cases involving "shared parenting," when children have near-equal amounts of time with each parent, the specific division of parenting time may also be factored into these calculations.

The primary categories of expenses covered by the basic child support obligation include:

• Housing costs: This includes rent or mortgage payments, property taxes, and utility bills like gas, water and electricity;
• Food and clothing: These are the recurring expenses for groceries, meals and appropriate clothing for the child; and,
• Basic medical care: While insurance premiums may be handled separately, basic child support typically includes out-of-pocket costs like copays for doctor visits and standard prescription medications.

Although divorce is a major financial upheaval for parents, the goal of child support is to give children as much financial support as possible, based on the specific circumstances.

Additional Expenses That May Be Added to an Illinois Child Support Order

Apart from the above-stated expenses addressed by the basic child support obligation, Illinois law also allows for additional costs to be factored into a child support Order. These are usually added in to the monthly child support payments, but in some cases, one parent pays on their own, or both parents split the cost. These additional expenses can include:

Healthcare

Whenever possible, parents are required to provide their children with health insurance coverage. This is frequently accomplished by  one parent simply paying the premium for employer-sponsored coverage out of their paycheck, even if both parents share the cost of meeting the deductible. Other medical expenses not covered by insurance, such as braces, specialty medical treatments, and assistive devices, may also be included in a child support Order

Education

Private school tuition, tutoring fees and other educational expenses can be included in child support.These kinds of expenses are more commonly added in situations where a child has already attended a private school for years, the parents can afford the costs, and the court wants to give the child stability. But high-earning parents can also be ordered by the court to pay these costs if it determines that this would be in the best interests of the child.

Childcare

If both parents are working, looking for a job, or in school, young children usually need to attend daycare or stay with another childcare provider. Childcare in 2026 is expensive, and is likely to continue to become even more expensive. The cost of childcare may be added to a child support order, although sometimes only for a set period of time.

Extracurricular Activities 

The costs of activities that contribute to a child's social, academic or physical development can also be very expensive. Typical activities include sports, music lessons and school clubs, and these costs may also be factored into child support. Typically, a maximum amount per child per year that each parent is required to contribute for these purposes is ordered by the court. In situations where just one of the parents wants a child to attend some type of expensive lessons, for example, such a desire will not necessarily lead to the court requiring that the other parent pay toward it.

What if My Ex is Just Spending Child Support on Themselves? 

Sometimes parents, especially those who are paying a significant amount of child support, can become concerned that their former spouse is using child support payments as a personal windfall, rather than for the children’s needs. However, unless there is tangible evidence that a child’s needs are actually being neglected, the parent making payments has little to no discretion over where child support money gets spent.

However, sometimes the parent receiving support payments mismanages the money so badly that a court will need to take a closer look. If you are seriously worried that your child’s needs are not being met, talk to an experienced family law lawyer. In these kinds of situations, you will be required to prove your allegations in court, and doing that requires providing tangible evidence, which might include: 

• Photographs of a child being regularly sent to school in dirty, worn, or too-small clothing; 
• Bills for unpaid school or medical expenses;
• Proof that the child support money is being spent on luxuries for the receiving parent, such as social media posts or witness testimony; and,
• Saved texts, emails, or other evidence from the receiving parent discussing your concerns about how the money is being spent. 

However, even if you are convinced that your child isn’t benefitting from the payments you’re making, don’t just stop making the payments. Instead, you can take your challenge to court, but unless and until you get a judge to alter your child support order, you can get in serious trouble for nonpayment.

Contact Our Hillside, IL Child Support Attorney

At the Law Office of Vincent C. Machroli, P.C., our Oak Park, IL child support lawyer has over 38 years of legal experience. We can help you understand the different factors that could affect the amount of child support that you pay or receive. We will advise you on how to make sure all expenses are addressed correctly, and we will advocate for solutions that will provide for your children’s best interests, while also recognizing your own financial needs. Contact us at 708-449-7404 to set up a no-charge consultation.