The language used to define child custody in Illinois can be confusing. What was once referred to as legal custody is now called parental responsibility while physical custody is now referred to as parenting time. To understand what the terms mean, it is important to take a closer look. Parental Responsibility Parental responsibility can be…Read More
Comprehensive Parenting Time Agreement
A comprehensive parenting time agreement not only includes a detailed schedule for the kids to spend time with each parent, but may also address issues such as screen time, dating parents, how to share expenses, or even how to resolve disputes in the future. Parents in Illinois often share custody of children which provides relatively…Read More
Hiring an Expert Witness in a Child Custody Case
An expert witness is a professional qualified as having the knowledge, skill, experience, training or education in a particular area beyond that of an average person, who may testify in court based upon sufficient facts or data. When a couple is embroiled in a child custody dispute, an expert witness such as a mental health…Read More
Parenting Time and Child Support
With the new parenting time law in the state of Illinois, many divorcing parents think about parenting time as it relates to child support rather than what may be in the best interest of the child. Because the amount of child support a parent will pay is contingent upon how many overnights they have with…Read More
Parenting Plans Involving Young Children
While divorce is never easy for a child regardless of age, preverbal and preschool children are unable to verbally express their feelings, needs or wants to parents as easily as a school age child can. Changes to the family dynamic can be especially unsettling and confusing especially when overnight visits to a non primary caregiver…Read More
College Financial Aid and Divorce
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) uses the information your child provides regarding your financial situation to determine your child’s financial aid eligibility. For parents that are married or reside together, FAFSA takes into account both parents incomes and assets. If parents are divorced and live apart, only the custodial parent is considered…Read More
Family Law Issues Spike During the Pandemic
Family law attorneys across the country have seen an increase in family law matters since mid-March ranging from financial support and custody modifications to inquiries regarding divorce. Working from home, especially with children in the house, has been a source of increased stress for many married couples, and may well be the final straw for…Read More
When Divorced Parents Disagree on Child Relocation
Following a divorce one parent may want to relocate with the children to take a job opportunity in another state or move so that they can be closer to extended family. If you share parenting responsibility and parenting time with your ex-spouse, you may be in for an uphill legal battle unless he or she…Read More
Illinois Parenting Plans for a Special Needs Child
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
