Glendale Heights Child Custody Lawyers

Attorneys Assisting With Parenting Plans in Family Law Cases in Glendale Heights

When parents separate or choose to get a divorce, decisions about how their children will be raised going forward can lead to disagreements, legal disputes, and ongoing conflict. Even if parents are willing to cooperate and plan to work together as co-parents while raising their children, they will need to take steps to determine when children will live or stay with each parent, how they will make important decisions, and how to address other issues that could affect their family in the years to come.

Parents in Glendale Heights who are facing these questions can take steps to protect their rights and provide for their children's best interests by working with a family law attorney. At A. Traub & Associates, we can provide the representation parents need as they address child-related issues, and we will work to negotiate agreements that will allow for effective co-parenting. We know that every family's situation is different, and our team will take the time to understand what matters most to our clients while developing strategies to help them achieve their goals.

The Role of a Parenting Plan in a Child Custody Case

In a family law case where parents are addressing issues related to the custody of their children, a parenting plan will detail how parental responsibilities will be allocated, how parenting time will be divided, and how other matters will be addressed. Parents who can agree on the terms of a parenting plan may submit their plan jointly, but if there are disagreements about child custody issues, each parent may submit their own proposed parenting plan.

If parents cannot agree on the terms of a parenting plan, a judge may order them to use mediation to address the outstanding issues and work to resolve any disagreements. If parents are unable to reach an agreement through mediation, the cases may be litigated in family court, and the judge will review factors related to children's best interests to determine how the outstanding issues will be resolved.

Terms Included in a Parenting Plan

Illinois law requires a parenting plan to address a specific list of issues. While parents may include additional provisions to address specific concerns that may affect their family, their plan will generally need to cover the following issues:

• Parenting Time Schedule: A parenting plan will include a detailed calendar showing when children will be with each parent. This schedule will detail when children will stay overnight in each parent's home or spend time with a parent at other times on regular days, evenings, and weekends. It will also address holidays, birthdays, school breaks, or any other days and times that fall outside of the regular schedule.
• Decision-Making Responsibility: The allocation of parental responsibilities will determine how parents will make decisions related to their children. A parenting plan will specify if decisions will be made jointly or if one parent will have sole authority to make decisions about issues such as education, health care, religion, and extracurricular activities.
• Communication Expectations: Parents can provide rules about how they will notify each other about children's needs, schedule changes, health issues, emergencies, or other issues that may arise. A parenting plan can also address communications between parents and children, detailing the appropriate times for calls or other rules.
• Relocation and Modifications: A parenting plan will typically require a parent who is planning to move to a new home to provide advance notice to the other parent. If a relocation may affect parenting time or decision-making authority, or if there are other reasons that a parent may wish to modify child custody, the parenting plan can detail how these issues may be handled.
• Dispute Resolution: In many cases, a parenting plan will include provisions addressing how disagreements related to parenting time or parental responsibilities will be handled, such as requiring parents to use mediation to resolve these issues.

How Our Attorneys Can Help With Child Custody Matters

Resolving Disputes Through Negotiation

Even when parents disagree about how child custody issues should be handled, they can take steps to resolve these issues without lengthy court battles. Doing so can often be beneficial for a family, since it can help prevent children from being exposed to conflict, and it can encourage parents to cooperate as they raise their children in the future. Our lawyers work with clients to identify their goals and address their concerns in these cases, and we can help them negotiate workable agreements.

Representation in Family Court

When disputes related to child custody cannot be resolved through negotiations or mediation, our attorneys can provide representation in family court proceedings. We can prepare a proposed parenting plan, gathering evidence about children's needs and each parent's circumstances, and presenting a clear case to a judge while advocating for solutions that will protect children's best interests.

Addressing Modifications and Enforcement

A family's circumstances can change after a parenting plan has been put in place. Our lawyers can help clients request modifications of child custody orders based on relocation plans, changes in work schedules, adjustments to children's schedules for school and activities, changes in children's needs, or potential concerns about children's safety and well-being. We can also help clients take steps to enforce child custody orders when necessary, including in situations where a parent has denied the other parent access to their children.

The Role of a Guardian ad Litem or Child Representative in a Child Custody Case

In cases where parents encounter conflict about how child custody issues should be handled, where they cannot reach agreements through negotiations or mediation, or where there may be concerns about children's health and safety, a judge may appoint a representative who will take steps to ensure that children's best interests are protected.

A guardian ad litem (GAL) or child representative is an attorney who will serve as an advocate for children in a family law case. This person may investigate the family's circumstances, review the issues that are in dispute, and provide recommendations to the judge on potential solutions. They may interview children, parents, other family members, or other people who are involved in children's lives. They may review medical records and school records for children. They may visit the parents' homes to evaluate whether they can provide safe and healthy environments for children.

A GAL will submit a report to the court that includes recommendations related to the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time. They may be called to testify in court about their findings. A judge is not required to follow a GAL's recommendations, but they are likely to consider the GAL's opinions as they make decisions about what would be in the best interests of the children.

Our attorneys can help clients understand when a GAL or child representative may be appointed, how to respond to questions or requests, and what steps they can take to show that they can protect their children's best interests. We will work to resolve issues related to child custody and help our clients meet their children's needs going forward.

Contact Our Glendale Heights, Illinois Child Custody Attorneys

The choices made during a child custody case can have an impact on a family's life for years. At A. Traub & Associates, our attorneys work with clients to protect their relationships with their children and help them find solutions that will meet their ongoing needs. Contact our Glendale Heights parenting plan lawyers at 630-426-0196 to arrange a consultation.