When Does a Parenting Schedule Need to Change as Children Get Older?
Parenting schedules that worked perfectly when your child was five years old often stop making sense by the time they’re twelve. That’s not a failure of the original plan. It’s just life. Kids grow, routines shift, and what once felt stable can start to feel like a mismatch with where your family actually is right […]
Handling Emergency Child Custody Situations in Northern Illinois
If a child faces real and present danger, Illinois courts can take immediate steps to protect them. Under state law, a judge may take emergency action if a child is in Illinois and has been abandoned or threatened with mistreatment or abuse. This includes situations involving domestic violence, severe neglect, or a parent’s sudden disappearance. […]
Why Would a Judge Not Grant 50/50 Custody in Illinois?
Many divorced parents in Illinois hope to secure equal parenting time with their children. While courts increasingly recognize the benefits of children having strong relationships with both parents, judges don’t automatically award 50/50 custody arrangements. Several important factors can lead a judge to determine that equal parenting time may not serve a child’s best interests. […]
Can I Change My Parenting Time Agreement in Illinois?
When two parents seek to divorce, they must also consider the needs and future of their children. The law addresses this through child custody arrangements, known as parenting time and parental responsibilities. Like other divorce matters, parents are encouraged to reach an agreement on these issues. If they can’t, the family court judge will step […]
Are You a Father? Here’s Why You Should Establish Paternity
In Illinois, if a child’s parents are not married when the child is born or are in a civil union, the father is not considered the legal father of the child. The father’s name cannot be added to the child’s birth certificate until paternity is legally established. The Importance of Establishing Paternity Paternity, which is […]
Step up Your Co-Parenting This Year!
Do you want to improve your co-parenting but aren’t sure how to? Click here for a dozen tips to try out this new year!