Does anyone know if going to court is mandatory when parents split in Illinois?

I mean is it a law that we should go to court to determine child support? Or can we just do it on our own, as long as we agree to terms? I guess I already now the answer, because I know that it's the law that the child gets taken care of. It just irks me to no end, knowing that I would be supporting my daughter, and the money would be used for her step-sister as her dad has maybe sent a total of $500 over the past 8 years.

I ask because what my lawyer told me and what I'm reading on every Illinois law site is way off. My lawyer told me that support is based upon the difference of the parents net income, for joint custody. I'm reading, that it's based solely on the NCP's net income and it's %20. I just started paying her $200 a month, but it should be, according to these sites, $680 a month. That would totally wipe me out, right now anyway. I would be reduced to selling the house and going to live in a small apartment. How is that looking out for the child's best interest? Also, my house is where she's lived most of her life.

I don't want to rush this, as who know's what will happen down the road, but going the legal route would go a long way towards helping me resolve things internally.

Please don't get me wrong. I want to do what's right, but how can someone do that when they can't afford it, and doing the right thing drives them into the poor house?

Scared that I'll lose everything.

Chris

We were never married, so there's no pending divorce or anything.

Illinois is a standard 20% of the non-custodial parents income MINIMUM. You may also be required to carry insurance on your child, and be responsible for 1/2 all co-pays for Dr visits and prescriptions. It is also possible, that you could be found responsible for other expenses such as part of daycare etc etc. These are all things to be considered.

Keep in mind that if you do go to court it will also be costly...my custody battle alone has already sunk me in over $12,000. It's not a fun thing to go through, but in my case, well worth it.

My ex wife and her husband agreed to their own settlement, wrote it all down and had it legally witnessed, signed, etc by an attorney. He got off much easier doing it that way as he isn't giving up 20% of his income, but he did give other things instead.

-J

Hmmm, I'm really conflicted on this. One we go to court and either one of us loses, really bad and I can't see how that's to the betterment of our daughter. Two, we do it outside the courts and keep the $$$ low, and I still don't see how that's to the betterment of our daughter. However, she's pretty well off right now, even though we are both struggling to make ends meet.