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ChildSupportandMaintenancePresentedby:MichaelS.Strauss,Esq.

“ReadtheStatutes”SaidandwrittenoverandoverandoverbyGarySchlesinger

Family Law Legislative Update November 5, 2015 Ch. 6 . Page 1

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Maintenance:750ILCS5/504

• (a)Removed“temporaryorpermanent”and“ingrossorforfixedorindefiniteperiodsoftime”:awardsarefor“periodsoftimeasthecourtdeemsjust”

• 1,3,5,6,9,10(andothernumberingchanges):Changestoinitialdeterminationofwhethermaintenanceshouldbeawarded• AddedthattheCourtmustconsiderthefinancialobligationsimposedonthepartiesasaresultofthedissolution,REALISTICfutureearningcapacityofbothparties,impairmentoftheREALISTICpresentandfutureearningsofthepartyagainstwhomthemaintenanceissought,anyparentalresponsibilityarrangementsthatcouldimpactthepartyseekingemployment,age,health,station,occupation,amountandsourcesofincome,vocationalskills,employability,estate,liabilities,andneedsofeachparty,andALLsourcesofincome(includingdisabilityandretirement)

MaintenanceContinued

• (b‐1):AmountandDurationofMaintenance

• (1)Includedthattheguidelinesdonotapplyifthepayor hasapriorobligationtopaychildsupportormaintenanceorbothfromapriorrelationship

• (1)(B)Durationiscalculatedbasedonthedatetheactionwascommencedandnotthedateofdissolution.Cleanedupyearsforduration.5yearsorlessis20%,morethan5butlessthan10is40%,morethan10butlessthan15is60%,andmorethan15butlessthan20is80%.Over20remainedaseitherpermanentorforthelengthofthemarriage.

• (1)(B)providespermanentorforafixed‐termformarriages20yearsandoverand(b)(4.5)providesforfixed‐termmaintenanceforlessthan10years.Whatabout10to19.999?

Family Law Legislative Update November 5, 2015 Ch. 6 . Page 2

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ChildSupport;contempt;penalties:750ILCS505

• (a)Clarifiedthatasupportingparentistheparentpayingsupport.

• (a)(2)Consolidatedbandetogether.Nosubstantialchangemade.

• (a)(3)(h)Addedstudentloansasadeductionwhencalculatingnetincome.

• (a)(5)and(6)Replaced“payor”with“supportingparent”.

• (a)(6)(b)Replacedcustodyterminology.

• (a)(6)(f)Addedthatonlyminorsinitialsareincludedintheorderforsupportundertheinsuranceprovision.

ChildSupportContinued

• (a)(6)(f)Addedlanguagethatbothparentsunderachildsupportobligationneedtoreporttotheotherandtheclerkanychangeofemploymentwithin10daysoftheoccurrence.Foreitherparentarrestedforthefailuretoreportthechange,thebondshallbethechildsupportthatshouldhavebeenpaidduringthetimeofunreportedemployment.Alsoaddedaprovisionfornotifyingachangeofaddresswithin5days.

Family Law Legislative Update November 5, 2015 Ch. 6 . Page 3

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TemporarySupportHearings:750ILCS501

• (a)(1):Asalways,eitherpartycanpetitionfortemporarymaintenanceortemporarysupport

• Thenitgetsinteresting!

TemporarySupportContinued

• (a)(3):TemporarymaintenanceandchildsupportSHALLbeheardonasummaryfashion(likeinterimfeehearings)“basedonparentingtime,financialaffidavits,taxreturns,paystubs,bankingstatements”

• Evidentiaryhearing“maybehelduponashowingofgoodcause”

• Sanctionsfor“intentionallyorrecklessly”filinganinaccurateormisleadingfinancialaffidavit,includingbutnotlimitedtocostsandattorneyfees.

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Modification:750ILCS5/510

• (a‐6)Forareviewunderb‐4.5of504,thecourtcanenterfixeddurationmaintenance,ifthemarriagewas10yearsorlessatthetimeofthecommencementoftheoriginalcase.

• (c)TheobligationterminatesonthedatetherecipientremarriesorthedatetheCourtfindsthatcohabitationbegan.Thepayor isentitledtoreimbursementforallmaintenancepaidfromthosedatesforward.Therecipientisrequiredtonotifythepayor theintenttomarryatleast30dayspriorunlessthedecisionismadetomarrywithinthe30daytimeframe.

ModificationContinued

• (c‐5)Inacasewithacourtruling,(notanagreement)theordershallhavefactualfindingsastothereasonsforthemodificationandtheamount,natureanddurationofthemodifiedmaintenance.

• (f)Addedapetitiontomodifyallocationofparentalresponsibilitieswillnotdelaychildsupportenforcementproceedings.

Family Law Legislative Update November 5, 2015 Ch. 6 . Page 5

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MICHAELS.STRAUSS,ESQ.Partner

Schlesinger&Strauss,LLCStraussfamilylaw@aol.com

Mr.StraussisapartnerofSchlesinger&Strauss,LLC.Michaelservesasamediator,childrepresentative,andguardianadlitem.Heisoneoftheco‐editorsoftheLakeCountyBarAssociation’smonthlylegalpublication,TheDocket,andheservesontheBoardofASafePlace.MichaelhasalsobeenelectedtotheIllinoisStateBarAssociationAssemblyandhasbeenappointedtotheFamilyLawSectioncouncilandpreviouslytotheChildLawSectioncouncil.Mr.StrausswasselectedtotheIllinoisRisingStarslistin2014,2015,and2016bySuperLawyersMagazineandwasalsoselectedbytheLawBulletinPublishingCompanyasoneofthetop40AttorneysunderFortyinIllinoisin2014.

EDUCATION

J.D.,UniversityofIllinoisCollegeofLaw,2004

B.S.,UniversityofIllinois,1999

COURTADMISSIONS

StateofIllinois,2004

U.S.DistrictCourtfortheNorthernDistrictofIllinois,2005

Family Law Legislative Update November 5, 2015 Ch. 6 . Page 6