How is Child Support Decided for Very High-Earning Couples?

 Posted on April 29, 2026 in Child Support

For most child support cases, a formula is used to establish the baseline support amount. The judge can make adjustments to that amount as needed, depending on the specifics of the family’s situation. For high-income couples, courts have more leeway in deciding what reasonable support amounts are. Judges will look at a standardized list of factors, as well as any other costs in the child’s life, to decide on the support amount owed by high-income parents.

If you have questions about what will affect your own 2026 child support orders, an Oak Brook, IL child support lawyer can help you understand what will have the most influence over the final number.

What Is Illinois’s Standard Formula for Child Support?

Illinois uses an "income shares" model, described in law 750 ILCS 5/505, for calculating child support. Courts use a list of standard support amounts in cases where the monthly net income of the parents is less than $30,000. The court looks at both parents' net incomes and estimates how much financial support the child would have received if the family had stayed together. That number is then divided between the parents based on how much each one earns.

For high-income couples, the process is somewhat more complex. Because the guidelines for support end at $30,000 net monthly income, the court has more discretion in setting a support amount.

How Do Courts Decide What Support Is Appropriate for High-Income Families in Illinois?

When a couple's income exceeds the standard guidelines, a judge considers several factors to set a fair support amount. Per Illinois law, these factors include:

• The child's current standard of living and the lifestyle they were used to before the divorce

• The reasonable needs of the child, including education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities

• Each parent's actual financial resources and earning capacity

• The amount of time each parent spends with the child

• Any special needs the child may have

These factors apply to every child support case, regardless of income. When parents have significant resources, it often introduces other "baseline" costs into the child’s life. These can include:

• Private school tuition if the child was already enrolled

• Travel costs for custody arrangements

• Summer camps, lessons, or other enrichment activities consistent with the child's lifestyle

• Medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance

• College savings contributions

Deciding how much child support is needed may involve negotiation over which of these costs are really necessary and what share each parent should cover.

What Happens if One Parent Tries To Minimize Their Child Support Contributions in IL?

Some parents are not thrilled about the idea of paying very large child support amounts. This may be especially true if they’re going towards costs that one parent regards as unnecessary. A parent who owns a business, receives substantial bonuses, or has investment income may try to make their earnings look smaller on paper to be given a lower support order.

In cases involving high-net-worth individuals, a careful review of financial records is essential. This can include tax returns from multiple years, business financial statements, profit and loss records, and documentation of perks or benefits paid through a business. If income is being concealed or understated, a judge has the authority to impute income. This means they can calculate support based on what a parent should be earning rather than what they claim to be earning.

Having independent legal counsel for each spouse is especially important in high-asset divorces for this reason. It’s important for a lower-earning spouse to receive a fair amount from their spouse to help support their child. It’s also important for the higher-earning spouse to feel confident that they’re not being taken advantage of.

Call an Experienced Wheaton, IL Child Support Lawyer Today

At Roberts PC, our goal is always to reach a fair settlement without dragging clients through unnecessary litigation. If a settlement isn't possible, we are willing to go to trial. We take on large, complex cases for business owners, professionals, doctors, lawyers, judges, and others with significant assets or income.

Call 630-668-4211 today to schedule your free consultation with one of our Oak Brook child support attorneys. As a client, you will have Attorney Robert’s cell phone number and email address, so you're never left waiting for information.