Glen Ellyn Child Custody Attorneys

Trusted Lawyers Helping You Protect Your Children's Best Interests in Glen Ellyn, IL

Making child custody arrangements as you separate or divorce is one of the most challenging things you may ever do. Strong emotions in these cases can make it hard to clearly see the best path to take. You need to protect your children's best interests and your own parental rights while trying not to let animosity toward your ex influence your judgment. You need an experienced lawyer to guide you through this challenging time.

At Goostree Law Group, we are fiercely dedicated to helping parents protect their children by making the right child custody decisions. We are very knowledgeable about the various laws that apply to child custody, and we also understand the importance of individualized solutions to your legal issues. We can help you negotiate terms, represent you in mediation, or use our extensive litigation experience and familiarity with the local court system to advocate for you at trial.

Glen Ellyn, Illinois Child Custody Considerations

Separating parents have to draft parenting plans in Illinois. These plans can be very specific, addressing multiple contingencies. At the minimum, your parenting plan should set out parenting time and visitation schedules while detailing how important child-related decisions will be made. We will work with you to craft a comprehensive parenting plan that protects your parental rights and your children's best interests.

Parenting Time

Most children need to develop and maintain healthy relationships with both of their parents to thrive as they grow. Although parents are separating, these needs will continue to be important. Physical custody and visitation, which is now called parenting time in Illinois, gives children the opportunity to spend time with each parent. The schedules you create should reflect your children's best interests, not yours or your co-parent's.

Your parenting time schedule should be customized, as children of different ages need different things from their parents. Other considerations include:

• Each parent's psychological and physical fitness to care for the children
• Each parent's living situation
• Either parent's history of domestic violence, abuse, or criminal behaviors
• How active each parent has been in their children's lives
• The willingness of each parent to cooperate as co-parents and foster a relationship between their children and the other parent

If your children are mature and old enough, their wishes could also be considered. One parent often has the majority of the parenting time, even when custody is shared. In cases where one parent is unfit, sole custody may be awarded to the other.

Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

Until they come of age, parents have the right and obligation to make important decisions that define their children's upbringing. These decisions include education, healthcare, and religion. Formerly called legal custody, the allocation of parental responsibilities is often split evenly between parents to allow each of you to have a say in these choices. However, sole legal custody is sometimes awarded if it would be necessary to protect children's best interests.

Potential Child Custody Issues

Every situation is different. Yours may include unique challenges that should be addressed properly in your child custody decisions, such as:

• Establishing or disputing legal paternity
• Provisions for children with special needs
• The need for a psychological evaluation for one or both parents
• Parental relocation
• Criminal charges or incarceration
• Neglect, desertion, or other dangers to the children that could warrant severing paternal rights

Whatever complex issues are involved in your child custody case, you can trust us to handle them effectively.

Resolving Child Custody Disputes in Illinois

There are several options for dispute resolution. Reaching common ground with the other parent, either through negotiations facilitated by your attorneys or mediation, is often preferable to litigation. These options are usually less expensive and faster, and they will give you more control over the outcome. When you let the courts decide, you may not like the ruling. Whichever route you decide to pursue, we will be by your side.

Call Our Glen Ellyn, Illinois Child Custody Lawyers

When you partner with Goostree Law Group, you will have the full support of your attorney. We will help you make the challenging choices that will define your family's future. Call 630-584-4800 or message us online to arrange for your complimentary case review today.