St. Charles Joint Child Custody Attorneys

Experienced Joint Custody Lawyers Serving Clients in Kane County

When parents are divorced or unmarried, child custody arrangements, now known as the allocation of parental responsibilities, must be determined. Until recently in Illinois, there were two basic forms of custody: joint custody and sole custody. Changes to the law, however, have replaced these concepts with a more fluid understanding of cooperative parenting. Parental responsibilities may be assigned to both parents or solely to one parent based on the child's best interests. When parental responsibilities are to be shared, Illinois law expects the parents to develop a parenting plan that outlines each party's rights and obligations.

At the Kane County family law firm of Goostree Law Group, we are skilled in negotiating and drafting parenting plans that address all of the rights and responsibilities of co-parents. At every step, we prioritize our clients' interests and the best interests of their children.

Drafting Parenting Agreements in Illinois

Raising a child with someone you are not married to can be challenging. A successful shared parenting arrangement is possible with a carefully negotiated and executed parenting plan, however. A comprehensive plan ensures that each party understands what is expected. There are many parts to an effective parenting plan, including:

• Parenting time, which details where the child will live and a schedule of when each parent will have the child and for how long. This should detail when children will be with each parent on a week-to-week bases, while also addressing holidays, birthdays, and vacations. Specific arrangements for drop off and pick up, including time and location, should be included as well;
• Decision-making authority, which determines what both parents must determine together (i.e. religious, education, health care) and what decisions can be made by one parent alone;
• Health care provisions, such as whose health insurance will cover the child and how uncovered medical expenses will be paid and by whom;
• Who gets the annual child dependent tax exemption;
• Child support arrangements;
• Who pays for extracurricular and social activities and which ones are allowed;
• Electronic communication with each parent (i.e. phone, video conferencing, email, text); and
• How disputes over the parenting plan will be handled (i.e. mediation/arbitration).

An amicable co-parent relationship is in the best interests of all parties, and a detailed parenting plan can help accomplish that. Even when the relationship between co-parents is strained, a properly executed plan can help avoid conflict in the future. Our attorneys will work closely with you to understand your parenting objectives and to strongly advocate for them when negotiating parenting arrangements.

Contact Our St. Charles Parenting Plan Lawyers

If you are involved in a child custody dispute or need help working out a child-related arrangement, contact us at 630-584-4800 to schedule a free consultation. We will answer your questions and discuss your custody options. Our firm works with clients throughout Northern Illinois, including Kane County and the surrounding areas.