How Is Maintenance Calculated In Illinois?

In Illinois, maintenance (formerly known as alimony) is always one of three different numbers: Zero. Because maintenance is not warranted in this divorce case. 33% of the payor’s net income minus 25% of the payee’s net income (with payor’s income and maintenance not to exceed 40% of the total of the two incomes) An amount appropriate based on the circumstances of the two divorcing parties. To determine which of these three formulas will be applied in your Illinois divorce case and what number will, eventually, be arrived at as your maintenance payment, the below analysis must occur. Will There Even Be Maintenance In Your Illinois Divorce? For every divorce case in Illinois, the court must first find that ANY maintenance award is appropriate. “In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, legal separation, declaration of invalidity of marriage, or dissolution of a civil union, a proceeding for maintenance following a legal separation…the court may grant a maintenance award for either spouse in amounts and for periods of time as the court deems just, without regard to marital misconduct, and the maintenance may be paid from the income or property of the other spouse. The court shall first make a finding as to whether a maintenance award is appropriate, after consideration of all relevant factors, including: (1) the income and property of each party, including marital property apportioned and non-marital property assigned to the party seeking maintenance as well as all financial obligations imposed on the parties as a result of the dissolution of marriage;(2) the needs of each party;(3) the realistic present and future earning capacity of each party;(4) any impairment of the present and future earning capacity of the party seeking maintenance due to that party devoting time to domestic duties or having forgone or delayed education, training, employment, or career opportunities due to the marriage;(5) any impairment of the realistic present or future earning capacity of the party against whom maintenance is sought;(6) the time necessary to enable the party seeking maintenance to acquire appropriate education, training, and employment, and whether that party is able to support himself or herself through appropriate employment;(6.1) the effect of any parental responsibility arrangements and its effect on a party’s ability to seek or maintain employment;(7) the standard of living established during the marriage;(8) the duration of the marriage;(9) the age, health, station, occupation, amount and sources of income, vocational skills, employability, estate, liabilities, and the needs of each of the parties;(10) all […]

from Russell D. Knight | Family Lawyer Chicago https://rdklegal.com/how-is-maintenance-calculated-in-illinois/