Today family courts handle an increasing number child custody cases involving children with special needs, some of whom suffer from common neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders such as attention deficit disorders, depressive disorders, and autistic spectrum disorders which present complex challenges to families and family law professionals trying to craft parenting plans and child support provisions…Read More
Interstate Child Custody Jurisdiction
The Netflix movie, Marriage Story, chronicles the divorce of two devoted parents of a young boy involved in an interstate custody dispute. In a fictional account that mimics real life, the story begins with a marriage on the rocks and a subsequent move by the mother and son from NY to CA to take a…Read More
Petition to Modify Allocation of Parental Responsibilities
Illinois allocation of parenting responsibilities, formerly known as custody, refers to parenting time and the authority to make significant decisions regarding minor children such as religious upbringing or education. When a divorce is finalized, an Allocation Judgement will be entered either by agreement or by a judge’s ruling, which will set forth the parenting time…Read More
Guardian Ad Litem Role in Determining Parenting Time and Responsibility
Deciding how parenting time and parental responsibilities will be structured to best meet the needs of your children during a divorce is perhaps the most important decision divorcing parents will make. Parental responsibility means making major decisions affecting your children such as education, religion, medical care and more. Parenting time means how much time children…Read More
Co-Parenting Following a Divorce? There’s An App For That.
Raising children consumes so much of our time, energy and attention. Parents not only provide a home and sustenance, but also coordinate many educational and social activities in between. From helping kids get their homework done to scheduling and keeping play dates or doctors’ appointments, parenting is a full time job. When parents’ divorce, juggling home…Read More
Child Custody When Children Are Very Young
When trying to determine what is in the best interest of a very young child in a contested child custody proceeding, judges will look at many factors. Continuity of care often weighs heavily in a judges determination when it comes to young’s kids who cannot make heads or tails out of a divorce, let alone…Read More
Does Having a Criminal History Impact Child Custody?
An arrest or conviction may affect your parental rights in Illinois. Having a criminal history can lead to challenges when trying to gain custody or visitation with your children, referred to in Illinois as allocation of parenting time and responsibility. Courts consider the best interests of the child when making child custody determinations. Typically, a…Read More
Grandparent Visitation Following Divorce or Separation
When spouses divorce, they may feel that giving up time for a child to spend with their grandparents is too much of an imposition when parenting time may already be limited. However, grandparents can be an important part of a child’s life and to deprive a child visits with grandparents may interfere with what may…Read More
Child Custody When a Parent is Facing Incarceration
The U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world and, unfortunately, millions of children may have parents that are in jail or prison at some time in their childhood. Because there are potentially negative consequences for a child of an incarcerated parent, considering a child’s best interest with regard to child custody…Read More
Fighting an Illinois Restraining Order Alleging Domestic Abuse
Unfortunately, domestic violence continues to be a serious problem across the nation and in Illinois. The Illinois Domestic Violence Act (750 ILCS 60/) provides victims a way to get court orders of protection, aka restraining orders, to protect victims and their children from abusers. Although certainly many incidences of abuse can be prevented using restraining orders, sometimes…Read More
