Geneva, IL Child Custody Lawyers

Attorneys Helping Create Parenting Plans and Resolve Custody Disputes in Geneva, Illinois

When parents go through a divorce or separation, they will need to address a variety of legal concerns, and many of the most important issues will be related to their children. In cases involving child custody, the goal of the court will be to protect the well-being of the child while respecting the rights of both parents. When addressing these issues, it is important to work with an attorney who understands how to help parents focus on the best interests of their children while advocating for workable solutions that will meet a family's needs.

At Goostree Law Group, our Geneva child custody attorneys can guide parents through the complex process of determining how parental responsibilities will be shared and how parenting schedules will work. Our lawyers work to ensure that our clients can maintain positive relationships with their children, putting effective parenting plans in place that will provide for their ongoing needs.

Joint Custody Is the Preferred Arrangement in Illinois

Illinois courts generally favor shared parenting arrangements in which children will be able to maintain close relationships with both parents, who will be able to participate in all aspects of child-rearing. It is often best for children to have both parents be actively involved in their lives. Because of this, parents are generally presumed to be fit, and they are typically entitled to share in parental responsibilities and have reasonable amounts of parenting time.

In joint custody arrangements, both parents will be able to share authority over major decisions related to their children's upbringing. They may work together to make decisions related to children's education, healthcare, religious upbringing, and extracurricular activities. Depending on a family's situation, these areas of responsibility may be shared equally, or one parent may be granted primary decision-making authority in one or more areas.

When parents share joint custody, children will live or spend time with each parent on a regular basis. A parenting time schedule will be created detailing the days and times when children will be in the care of each parent. Parenting time may be divided based on a family's circumstances, and schedules may range from 50/50 arrangements to situations where children spend most of the year with one parent and visit the other parent during vacations from school.

Joint custody can help ensure that both parents will be involved in children's lives, which research shows is beneficial for a child's emotional development. However, to share custody effectively, both parents will need to be willing and able to communicate and cooperate with each other.

Call 630-584-4800 and let us help your family.

When Sole Custody May Be Appropriate

There are some situations where sole custody by one parent may be necessary. For example, the court may award most or all parental responsibilities to one parent if:

• There is a history of abuse or domestic violence.
• One parent has a substance abuse problem.
• A parent has been consistently absent or uninvolved in children's upbringing.
• There is ongoing parental conflict that could have a negative impact on children.
• One parent has demonstrated an inability to make sound decisions regarding the child's welfare.

The court will prioritize safety and stability for children. To shield them from conflict or address potential safety issues, one parent may have sole custody. However, even in sole custody scenarios, the other parent may still be able to have regular parenting time with the children unless this would place the child's physical or emotional well-being in danger. In some cases, supervised parenting time may be appropriate to ensure that a parent can spend time with children regularly while avoiding any potential safety issues.