Addison, IL Child Custody Lawyers

Attorneys Helping With Parenting Plans in Family Law Cases in Addison, Illinois

When parents encounter disputes related to their children, determining how to resolve these matters may not be easy. During a divorce or family law case, parents may disagree about where children should live, when they should stay with each parent, and how decisions will be made about important matters such as education and medical care. These disputes can be emotionally charged, and they can affect parents' ability to cooperate and meet their children's needs.

To help find solutions that will protect their children's best interests, resolve disputes, and put terms in place that will allow for successful co-parenting, a parent can work with an attorney who has experience handling child custody matters. At A. Traub & Associates, we provide guidance for parents on how to handle these matters and resolve legal issues related to their children. We will work with clients throughout the legal process, helping them focus on finding the best ways to protect their children's best interests going forward.

Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

Illinois law has replaced the term "legal custody" with "allocation of parental responsibilities." This aspect of child custody addresses how parents will make important decisions as they raise their children. The areas of decision-making responsibility include education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and religious education or activities.

The way parental responsibilities will be allocated will depend on a family's specific situation, the ways parents have made decisions in the past, and the steps that can be taken to protect children's best interests. When parents address these issues in family court, they will usually be encouraged to cooperate when making decisions and put solutions in place that will meet their children's needs while encouraging both parents to be involved in their children's lives.

In many cases, parents will be able to share decision-making authority, which is also known as joint legal custody. However, if parents are unable to communicate effectively, if there is a high level of conflict between parents, or if a parent had not participated in decision-making in the past, decision-making authority may be allocated to one parent. In these cases, a parent may have sole responsibility for some or all types of decisions.

At A. Traub & Associates, we can help our clients determine how decision-making authority may be handled in a child custody case. We can work to put agreements in place that will promote healthy co-parenting and mutual decision-making, or we can advocate for sole custody when it may be appropriate.

Parenting Time Arrangements

The term "physical custody" generally refers to decisions about where children will live and when they will spend time with each parent. In Illinois, this is known as parenting time. Courts in the state will generally presume that children should have regular contact with both parents, and parents have a right to spend reasonable amounts of time with their children, regardless of the decisions made about the allocation of parental responsibilities.

The specific parenting time schedules that may be put in place may account for factors such as children's age, school schedules, extracurricular activities, parents' work schedules, and the distance between parents' homes. In addition to regular weekly schedules, a parenting time schedule should address holidays, school breaks, vacations, birthdays, and other important occasions. By making sure these schedules are fully understood as they put a child custody agreement in place, parents can avoid misunderstandings and reduce future conflict.

Parenting Plans

During child custody proceedings, parents will be required to submit a parenting plan to the court. A parenting plan may be agreed upon by the parents after negotiations, or a judge may take steps to put a parenting plan in place in a situation where decisions cannot be made outside of court. A comprehensive parenting plan will include several important terms and provisions. In addition to addressing the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, a parenting plan may address:

Transportation and Exchange Procedures

To help parents avoid disputes, their parenting plans may specify how transportation arrangements for children will be handled at different times. The plan may detail when either parent will pick up or drop off children, as well as the locations where exchanges may be made and how transportation costs may be divided in certain situations. When these terms are defined clearly, they can help avoid misunderstandings and minimize conflict during exchanges.

Communication Between Parents and Children

A parenting plan may establish communication guidelines involving parents and children. The plan may state when a parent can communicate with children during the other parent's parenting time and the methods of communication that may be used, such as phone calls or video chats.

The plan can also detail how parents may communicate with each other as they discuss child-related issues, make decisions, handle adjustments to the parenting time schedule, or notify each other about emergencies. Effective communication provisions can help parents remain involved in their children's lives while maintaining positive co-parenting relationships.

Right of First Refusal

Parents may agree to include right of first refusal provisions in a parenting plan. These terms may require a parent to offer parenting time to the other parent before they make arrangements for a babysitter or another person to provide care for children. For example, if one parent will be unavailable to care for children because they need to work during an evening or on a weekend, they may be required under the right of first refusal to make arrangements to have the other parent watch the children during that time.

These provisions can help to maximize each parent's time with their children while ensuring that children will have the proper care at all times. Our attorneys can help clients negotiate terms that will meet their families' ongoing needs.

Contact Our Addison Child Custody Attorneys

Disputes about child custody and parenting plans can affect parents and children in many ways. The decisions made in these cases can affect families for years to come. Developing a detailed, practical parenting plan can be essential in a divorce or family law case. At A. Traub & Associates, we work with clients to address issues related to parental responsibilities, parenting time schedules, parenting plans, and other child-related concerns. Contact our Addison, IL child custody lawyers today by calling 630-426-0196 to set up a consultation.