Bloomingdale, Illinois Child Custody Attorneys

Lawyers Addressing Child Custody in Divorce and Family Law Cases in Bloomingdale

Client-Centered Family Law Representation

Amazing service and superb communication.

I always knew what was going on and Steven took care of me and my case extremely well!

Read More Testimonials

The Best Interest of the Child Standard

When courts make decisions related to parental responsibilities and parenting time, they will follow what is known as the "best interest of the child" standard. This standard ensures that children's health, safety, and well-being will be the top priority when making decisions about child custody. Multiple factors may be considered to determine what solutions will provide for children's best interests.

The mental and physical health of parents may be evaluated to ensure that they can provide a stable, nurturing environment. Any history of domestic violence or abuse will be given serious consideration, and these issues may affect the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time.

The quality of the relationship each parent has with their children may be considered. Courts may look at which parent has historically been the primary caregiver for children, how involved each parent has been in children's schooling and home life, and the strength of each parent's emotional bond with their children.

The willingness of each parent to encourage a positive relationship between their children and the other parent is also a significant issue. Attempts to undermine a child's relationship with the other parent by interfering with parenting time, negative comments about the other parent, or other actions or behaviors may be considered when addressing child custody issues.

Children's wishes may be considered in some cases, depending on a child's age and maturity. An older teenager's preferences may carry more influence than those of a young child. Other factors considered may include a child's adjustment to their home, school, and community, as well as any agreements that parents had previously made related to parenting arrangements.

What Is a Parenting Plan?

In a divorce or child custody case, a parenting plan will be created that will detail each parent's responsibilities and determine how they will work together to raise their children. The issues addressed in a parenting plan will include:

Allocation of Decision-Making Responsibilities

The parenting plan must specify how major decisions will be made. In many cases, decision-making authority will be allocated jointly, requiring both parents to agree before decisions are made. This option may work well when parents can communicate effectively and are willing to cooperate as they address important child-related issues. Sole decision-making authority may be appropriate in cases where parents are unable to agree or when one parent has not participated in making decisions in the past.

Parenting Time Schedule

A parenting plan will include detailed terms specifying where children will be on a day-to-day basis. The schedule will address regular weekly or biweekly parenting time during the school year, and parents may agree on the specific arrangements that will meet their needs. They may need to consider children's age and needs, parents' work schedules, the distance between the parents' homes, and the time when children will be attending school or participating in activities.

Holiday and Vacation Schedules

Parents will also need to address how time will be shared during school breaks, holidays, and vacations. Holiday provisions may address major holidays, winter break, spring break, parents' birthdays, children's birthdays, or any other days where the regular parenting time schedule will not apply.

Communication Between Parents and Children

A parenting plan can address how parents will communicate with each other about their children's needs. It can also address how each parent will maintain contact with children during the other parent's parenting time. This may include provisions for phone or video calls, and the appropriate times when parents can call children.

Transportation and Exchange Arrangements

Parents will need to determine how children will be transported between their homes. A parenting plan may specify which parent will be responsible for transportation at each exchange, where exchanges will take place, and what steps may be followed if a parent is unavailable.