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Child custody and support in Illinois

Custody and child support in a Illinois divorce: the legal term for custody, the parenting class, the official support calculator, custody mediation and the child support agency.

Checked against official sources: Oct 24, 2026

The short answer

In Illinois, custody is called “allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)”. About the parenting class: Parents with minor children must complete a court-approved class about parenting and divorce; ask the circuit clerk which class. Illinois publishes an official child support calculator or guidelines.

Custody term
Allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)
Parenting class
Required
Child support calculator
Official child support calculator or guidelines
Child support agency
Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Division of Child Support Services

Custody terms in Illinois

Allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)

Mediation

Judges may order mediation, and many circuits require mediation of contested parenting issues (Ill. S. Ct. Rule 905). Spouses usually pay the mediator.

Parenting class in Illinois

  • Parents with minor children must complete a court-approved class about parenting and divorce; ask the circuit clerk which class.
  • There's normally a fee unless you have an Order for Waiver of Court Fees (Illinois Supreme Court divorce-with-children instructions).

Child support in Illinois

Child support follows Illinois's guidelines. Estimate it with the official calculator, and contact the state's child support agency for help setting up or collecting it.

Children in a Illinois divorce: what the process includes

  1. Custody

    The court's orders use Illinois's term for custody: allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time).

  2. Parenting class

    Take the parenting class described above if Illinois requires it in your case.

  3. Mediation

    If the court sends you to mediation, go to every session; the rule is above.

  4. Child support

    Estimate it first: the official calculator

  5. The child support agency

    For help setting up or collecting support, contact the state's child support agency.

Questions about custody and child support in Illinois

What is child custody called in Illinois?

Illinois uses the term “allocation of parental responsibilities (decision-making and parenting time)”.

Do parents have to take a class in a Illinois divorce?

Yes. Parents with minor children must complete a court-approved class about parenting and divorce; ask the circuit clerk which class. There's normally a fee unless you have an Order for Waiver of Court Fees (Illinois Supreme Court divorce-with-children instructions).

Is there an official child support calculator for Illinois?

Yes. Illinois's official calculator or guidelines: the official calculator

Which agency handles child support in Illinois?

Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Division of Child Support Services.

Is mediation required for custody in Illinois?

Judges may order mediation, and many circuits require mediation of contested parenting issues (Ill. S. Ct. Rule 905). Spouses usually pay the mediator.

More about divorce in Illinois

Custody and support in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.