How is a Visitation Schedule Determined?

 Posted on June 23, 2013 in Divorce

Part of any divorce agreement that involves children is a child custody agreement and a visitation schedule. The parent that the children live with is the custodial parent. The parent that is living outside of the child's permanent home is the non-custodial parent. Child custody in Kane County can be changed with the help of an attorney if your current situation is not working for the children. Sometimes, custody and visitation agreements come easily, while other times it can be a definite point of contention. Most states divide the parenting time in an 80/20 split with the custodial parent having the children 80% of the time. The division may include things such as visitation with the non-custodial parent every other weekend, one weeknight during the week (depending on where the parents both live), a few weeks out of the summer vacation, as well as divided holidays. The schedule is determined by several factors, such as the age of the children and the geographic location of the parents. The schedule will be amended to accommodate things such as the extracurricular activities of the children. It is important to remember that the most important thing is that both parents actively participate in the children's lives. The children are going to go through the transition of not having both parents in the home. They deserve to have both parents in their lives, unless one is deemed an unfit parent. It is important to remember that visitation and child support are two separate issues that do not intertwine in any way. If the father does not pay his ordered child support, that does not give the mother just reason not to adhere to the order for visitation, and vice versa. If you have questions regarding establishing or amending an order for visitation or child custody in Kane County, contact an experienced Kane County family law attorney. Your family attorney will look over the existing order and make recommendations. If you choose to follow the recommendations, your lawyer can also represent you in family court.

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