Best Chicago Child Custody Attorneys

Best Chicago Child Custody Attorneys

When two parents of a child get divorced or otherwise decide to part ways in Illinois, it is necessary for them to address the matter of child custody. In 2016, the State of Illinois updated its family laws, and the law now refers to the traditional idea of “custody” as “parental responsibility.” There are two aspects of parental responsibility – parenting time and decision-making responsibilities. 

The outcome of a parental responsibility case can have a huge impact on your future, and on the well-being of your child. You want to have the right legal representation from the best Chicago child custody attorneys who can protect your parental rights. Learn how the legal team at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, can help.

Determining Parenting Time

Parenting time is a critical part of any parental responsibility determination, as it is important to set out when the child will live with each parent. You want the schedule to work for everyone involved, so the transition to having two residences can go as smoothly as possible for your child. Some parents share parenting time as close to 50/50 as possible, while in other situations, one parent might be the primary caretaker, and the other parent has a visitation schedule. 

It is best for parents to agree on how to share parenting time out of court since they will usually know their circumstances and what works for their schedules and their child better than anyone else. If the decision must go before the court, the judge will decide how to divide parenting time based on what is in the best interests of the child. This involves weighing many factors, such as: 

• The wishes of the parents
• The wishes of a child if they are mature enough to have and express logical preferences
• How much time each parent spent caring for the child in the past two years
• The child’s relationship with each parent and other household members
• The child’s connections to the community, home, and school
• The child’s and each parent’s physical and mental health
• The needs of the child
• The proximity of the parents’ homes and the feasibility of transportation and switching residences based on relevant schedules
• Whether the parents are willing to cooperate to share parenting time
• Whether each parent is willing and able to care for the child, as well as facilitate a relationship between the child and the other parent
• A history of physical violence, threats, or abuse by one parent
• Other factors that are deemed relevant

Determining Decision-Making Responsibilities

Parents must decide how to share decision-making for the child’s health, education, religion, and extracurricular activities. This decision should also be based on what is in the best interests of the child, with the following factors considered:

• Mental and physical health of the parents and child
• Whether the parents can cooperate to make decisions
• The wishes of the parents and child
• Whether each parent will encourage a relationship with the other parent
• A history of abuse by one or both parents
• Other relevant factors

Contact the Best Chicago Child Custody Attorneys Today

The outcome of your parental responsibility case will set the stage for your relationship with your child in the future. You want to have legal guidance from a lawyer you can trust for this important case. Contact us at WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, to learn more about how we can help.