Illinois
child custody
lawyers
Establishing, modifying, or enforcing child custody? Get matched with an experienced Illinois child custody lawyer, and pay for the work done, not the hours. No hourly clock, no retainers. You make the decisions. Your attorney handles the paperwork.
Illinois
child custody
lawyers
Establishing, modifying, or enforcing child custody? Get matched with an experienced Illinois child custody lawyer, and pay for the work done, not the hours. No hourly clock, no retainers. You make the decisions. Your attorney handles the paperwork.
Over 600
Vetted attorneys
Over 85K+
Clients helped
3K+
5 stars on Trustpilot
11
States served
It’s the Marble difference
Yes - your custody case can be less overwhelming
Right attorney for your case - guaranteed*
You’re matched with the right attorney for each step of your case using the Marble Legal Engine™.
Pay for the work done - not the hours
Unlike traditional hourly billing, you'll know the cost of each service before you commit to anything. Payment plans available.
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Move forward with insights from 130K+ cases to guide your next step. Your personal info remains confidential.
Everything in one place
Submit legal documents, track progress, and manage your case through Marble home, your secure legal app.
What moving forward looks like
Get startedOnly charges for your actual needs keeping the cost down. Very attentive and understanding. Highly recommend.
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Nothing too big or small
Legal care for you and your kids, all in one place
Parenting plans
Create a parenting plan that fits your family's needs. An experienced attorney can help you build clear schedules, define responsibilities, and create an agreement that supports your child's best interests now and in the future.
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Parenting time
Parenting time is about more than a schedule. It's about staying involved in your child's life. Work with an attorney to create or negotiate a parenting time schedule that works for your family and your future.
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Parenting time and decision-making modifications
Life changes. When your family's circumstances change, your parenting time or decision-making order may need to change too. An attorney can help you understand your options and request modifications that reflect your current situation.
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Court representation
If your parenting case goes to court, experienced legal representation can make a meaningful difference. Prepare your case, understand what to expect, and advocate for the outcome you're seeking.
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Enforcing parenting time orders
When a parenting time order isn't being followed, you don't have to navigate it alone. An attorney can help you understand your legal options and take the appropriate next steps.
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Allocation of parental responsibilities
Whether you're seeking significant decision-making responsibilities, more parenting time, or responding to a dispute, get legal guidance tailored to you. Understand your options and work toward a solution that protects your relationship with your child.
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Child support
Understand how child support is calculated, what factors may affect payments, and what your rights and responsibilities are. Get guidance that helps you make informed decisions for both you and your child.
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Emergency orders
When your child's safety or well-being is at immediate risk, you may need urgent legal action. Get experienced guidance to understand your options and respond quickly to protect your family.
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Establishing parentage
If you're not married to your child's other parent, establishing legal parentage may be the first step toward parenting time or decision-making responsibilities. An attorney can help you file or respond to a parentage petition and understand what comes next.
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Child custody in Illinois is different
Illinois child custody laws have their own rules and their own vocabulary. Here's what matters most before you file or respond.
01
Both parents' incomes go into the formula
Illinois uses an income shares model. The court generally combines both parents' net incomes, looks up a basic obligation on a state schedule based on that combined income and the number of children, and divides it between the parents in proportion to each parent's share of the income.
04
Overnights can change the math
Under current law through December 31, 2026, when each parent has the child for 146 or more overnights a year, the basic obligation is generally multiplied by 1.5, each parent's share is calculated, and the amounts are offset. Illinois has enacted a change, effective January 1, 2027, that begins shared-care adjustments at 110 overnights.
02
Net income is the starting point
Net income generally means income from all sources minus a standardized or individualized tax amount. Means-tested public assistance, such as TANF, SSI, and SNAP, is generally not counted.
05
Changing an order generally takes a substantial change in circumstances
A parent who wants to modify support generally needs to show one. When a parent receives child support enforcement services from the state, and at least 36 months have passed since the order was entered or last modified, it may be modified without showing a substantial change if it differs from the current guideline amount by at least 20 percent and at least $10 a month.
03
The guideline amount carries weight
The amount the schedule produces is presumed to be correct, and a court needs written findings to depart from it. The schedule is set by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services rather than written into the statute, and it is revised from time to time, so an old estimate may be out of date.
06
Support generally runs to age 18, and sometimes a little longer
In Illinois, support typically continues until the child turns 18, or while the child is still in high school and has not yet turned 19.
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Start online (2 mins)
Answer a few questions about your situation so we can understand your case.
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Talk to an intake specialist (~30 mins)
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Choose your legal package
Start with only the services you need today. Add more as your case progresses.
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Child custody in Illinois is different
Illinois child custody laws have their own rules and their own vocabulary. Here's what matters most before you file or respond.
How we compare
Personalized attorney matching
Traditional firms
DIY
Led by a real attorney
The right attorney for your case
Pay per service
Payment plans available
Faster work with Marble Legal Engine™
Updates anytime
Illinois managing attorney
Walter Jackowiec
Clients served
3000+
Years of experience
45 years
Practice Areas
Family law
Licenced in
Illinois
Counties we serve in Illinois
- Adams
- Alexander
- Bond
- Boone
- Brown
- Bureau
- Calhoun
- Carroll
- Cass
- Champaign
- Christian
- Clark
- Clay
- Clinton
- Coles
- Cook
- Crawford
- Cumberland
- DeKalb
- De
- Witt
- Douglas
- DuPage
- Edgar
- Edwards
- Effingham
- Fayette
- Ford
- Franklin
- Fulton
- Gallatin
- Greene
- Grundy
- Hamilton
- Hancock
- Hardin
- Henderson
- Henry
- Iroquois
- Jackson
- Jasper
- Jefferson
- Jersey
- Jo
- Daviess
- Johnson
- Kane
- Kankakee
- Kendall
- Knox
- Lake
- LaSalle
- Lawrence
- Lee
- Livingston
- Logan
- Macon
- Macoupin
- Madison
- Marion
- Marshall
- Mason
- Massac
- McDonough
- McHenry
- McLean
- Menard
- Mercer
- Monroe
- Montgomery
- Morgan
- Moultrie
- Ogle
- Peoria
- Perry
- Piatt
- Pike
- Pope
- Pulaski
- Putnam
- Randolph
- Richland
- Rock
- Island
- Saline
- Sangamon
- Schuyler
- Scott
- Shelby
- St.
- Clair
- Stark
- Stephenson
- Tazewell
- Union
- Vermilion
- Wabash
- Warren
- Washington
- Wayne
- White
- Whiteside
- Will
- Williamson
- Winnebago
- Woodford
Your questions, answered
We use fixed, service-based pricing so you’ll always know what to expect. No hourly billing, and no surprise fees.
Courts consider the child’s best interests, including each parent’s involvement, home stability, willingness to cooperate, and any concerns about safety or abuse.
Decision-making refers to who has legal authority over major issues like education and healthcare. Parenting time refers to the physical time a child spends with each parent.
Yes. If there has been a substantial change in circumstances, you may request a modification. We help you present the evidence and file the necessary documents.
Parents who wish to move a certain distance with their child must either gain agreement from the other parent or seek court approval. We help you follow the legal steps and build a strong case.
No. Illinois courts focus on the child’s best interests, not the gender of the parent. Both parents are evaluated equally.
Uncontested cases may be resolved in a few months. Contested cases that go to trial may take longer depending on complexity and court availability.
Helpful evidence may include parenting logs, communication records, school reports, and any documentation that shows each parent’s involvement and the child’s needs.
*The Attorney Match Guarantee™ applies to Marble’s matching process only and does not guarantee case outcomes, general satisfaction, or full refunds. Re-matches are subject to attorney availability and good account standing, and are limited to 3 discretion-based re-matches. If a suitable attorney is unavailable, a prorated refund based on work completed may apply.