Of all the areas of family law, child custody cases can be some of the most emotional and challenging for all parties involved. As Chicago child custody lawyers, we have witnessed the impact that contentious battles can have on children and their parents. As such, we work diligently to achieve the best results for you and your children.
In Illinois, the law uses the terms “allocation of parental responsibilities” and “parental responsibility” in place of “child custody.” There are two overarching types of parental responsibility under this law: decision-making responsibility and parenting time.
The law specifies four types of decision-making responsibilities: extra-curricular activities, education, religion, and health. The courts may allocate these responsibilities in several ways:
An example of the last option may be if one parent is a doctor and takes on the health decision-making responsibility while the other parent has the other three responsibilities.
Parenting time is the more straightforward aspect of parental responsibility. This term refers to any time in which the parent is providing caretaking functions for the child, similar to physical custody in other states. Parents may split parenting time 50/50. On the other hand, one parent could take the majority of the parenting time while the other has occasional visitation.
In many cases, parents and their legal representatives come to agreements on parental responsibility through mediation and negotiation. We try to aim for this outcome whenever possible in order to save you time, stress, and money. However, we know that sometimes finding an agreement in this way is not possible.
When an agreement cannot be reached, the case goes to trial in a family court. The judge must then decide what arrangement is in the best interest of the child. In order to determine the child’s best interest, judges consider factors such as:
If your case goes to trial, it will be absolutely vital to have authoritative, determined, and respected attorneys to represent your case in court.
Every family is unique and needs its own custody arrangement. With the latest laws in Illinois, determining the best child custody arrangement for your family can be complex. That’s why it’s vital to hire the top Chicago child custody lawyers to represent your interests and help your children.
At WARD FAMILY LAW, LLC, we know that defending your family is a major responsibility, and we want you to feel comfortable with us. That’s why we offer free consultations in which you can decide if we are the right fit for you. Contact us today to set up your appointment.
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She is a nice lawyer. She helped me to fix my passport issue among other things, including family problems.
Initially, I'd thought to navigate through troubled waters on my own in the divorce process due to the cost. I hadn't before needed representation in any court case, and, not being familiar with the costs involved in having a lawyer, I was worried about moving forward with one. My fear was the expense. I felt comfortable with Jennifer Ward from the moment I first spoke with her - contacting her to set up a consultation costs you nothing. In the end, the retainer and fees spent to end my case on a high note were worth every penny. They sent…
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