Custody Concerns for Fathers

 Posted on August 09, 2016 in Child Custody

If you are a father facing divorce, you might find yourself stressing about what will happen to your relationship with your children. Although you have a full, equal role in your child's life, many individuals throughout the United States hold outdated notions about a mother's role in her child's life versus a father's role. You might also have heard that courts tend to favor mothers when determining custody arrangements and that after a divorce, a father simply becomes an ATM for child and spousal support.

Do not let these ideas trap you into thinking you have no power or rights in your divorce. The concept of child custody has been dramatically altered in recent years and now, it is known as parenting time and parental responsibilities. These refer to the roles that each parent fills in his or her child's life and the specified blocks of time they spend with the child in the years after their divorce. Under Illinois law, a parent's gender has no bearing on these determinations and when child support is deemed to be necessary, it is ordered based on the parenting time arrangement determined by the court. Your attorney will fight for your right to be treated fairly during these determinations and if you feel your gender is being used in any way to justify less parenting time or a larger financial obligation than you deserve, voice your concerns to your lawyer.

Showing That You Are an Involved Parent

To ensure a fair parenting time agreement, you need to prove to the court that you are actively engaged in your child's life. If you are the parent who gets your child ready for school each morning, voice that. If you are the parent who does the after school runs and helps your child with his or her homework, voice that. Combat any assumptions about your role in your child's life with evidence of your day-to-day interactions with your child and do not be afraid to advocate for yourself.

If you work with a custody evaluator to determine your parenting time arrangement, his or her insight can be used to support your claims. Other adults who know your child well, such as his or her teacher or pediatrician, can also discuss your role in your child's life to aid the court in determining an appropriate parenting time arrangement for your child. What the court is looking for is the strength of your relationship with your child as well as your ability to provide for his or her emotional, psychological, physical, and academic needs.

Work with an Experienced Kane County Divorce Attorney

If you are considering ending your marriage, work with an experienced divorce attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and your interests are represented. This is important no matter what circumstances you are facing with your divorce. To get started with a member of our team of experienced Kane County divorce attorneys, contact the Goostree Law Group to schedule your initial legal consultation in our office.

Sources:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8300000&SeqEnd=10000000

https://www.afccnet.org/resource-center/resources-for-families/pamphlet-information/categoryid/1/productid/9