Warrenville Child Custody Attorneys

Lawyers for the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time in Warrenville, Illinois

Disputes involving children are some of the emotionally difficult and legally complex matters addressed in family law cases. Parents who are involved in these disputes will often need to find a balance between protecting their parental rights and promoting the best interests of their children. The assistance of a skilled and experienced attorney can be invaluable as parents work to negotiate agreements related to child custody.

At Goostree Law Group, our lawyers help parents establish and enforce child custody arrangements. Whether a family's situation involves collaborative decision-making or contested disputes, we can help ensure that the parenting agreements put in place are fair, practical, and fully compliant with Illinois law. By prioritizing clear communication and child-focused solutions, our goal is to help our clients build a strong foundation for co-parenting success.

Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody in Illinois

Traditionally, the term "legal custody" involves the right to make decisions about how children will be raised. In Illinois, legal custody is referred to as the allocation of parental responsibilities. These responsibilities include the authority to make significant decisions related to issues such as education, health and medical care, religion, and extracurricular activities.

"Physical custody" typically refers to where children will live. It is known as parenting time in Illinois, and a child custody agreement will include a schedule that determines when the child will be with each parent, including the weekdays and weekends spent living in each parent's home during the school year, as well as holidays, school vacations, or other days and times. Parenting time can be divided in many ways depending on a family's unique circumstances.

Joint vs. Sole Custody Arrangements

In many cases, Illinois courts favor joint custody arrangements in which parents will both parents share in decision-making responsibilities, and children will have reasonable parenting time with both parents. Joint custody may be appropriate when both parents have played active roles in the child's life and are willing to communicate respectfully and cooperate to raise their children together.

However, there are some situations where sole custody may be granted because joint custody would not be in the child's best interests. This may be the best solution if a family has a history of domestic violence or abuse, if one parent has been absent from the child's life, or if high levels of conflict may prevent parents from making decisions together.

Most of the time, sole custody will give one parent the authority to make decisions about how the child will be raised. However, the other parent may still be granted reasonable amounts of parenting time unless the court finds that contact between the parent and the child would endanger the child physically, emotionally, or psychologically. Our attorneys can help determine whether joint or sole custody is appropriate for your situation, and we will advocate for a parenting structure that provides for your child's best interests.

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

Parenting Plans

Under Illinois law, parents are required to submit a parenting plan that outlines how they will share parental responsibilities and parenting time. A comprehensive parenting plan typically includes terms addressing:

• Allocation of Parental Responsibilities: The plan will specify who will have the authority to make decisions in each key area of the child's life.
• Parenting Time Schedule: The plan will detail when the child will reside with each parent, including school days, weekends, holidays, birthdays, and vacations.
• Transportation and Transitions: Parents may make agreements to determine how the child will be exchanged between their homes and who will be responsible for transportation.
• Communication Guidelines: The plan may provide rules for how parents will communicate with each other and with the child during the other parent's parenting time.
• Right of First Refusal: Parents may agree that one parent must offer the other parent the opportunity to care for the child if they are unable to do so during their scheduled time.
• Dispute Resolution Methods: The plan may detail how disagreements regarding parenting decisions will be addressed in the future, such as through mediation or counseling.

By creating a detailed parenting plan, parents can reduce future conflict and provide their children with consistency and stability. Our lawyers can help draft and negotiate an agreement that addresses your family's specific needs and minimizes the potential for misunderstandings or disputes.