Child Custody and Visitation Attorneys

Allocation of Parental Responsibility Lawyers Working with Clients in Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downers Grove, Hinsdale, and the Surrounding Areas

Divorce is a complicated matter, especially when there are children involved. Before a divorce can be finalized, the way that the couple shares parental rights and responsibilities must be determined, either by the couple themselves or by a court. For this reason, it is highly advisable for any parent who is going through a divorce to retain a family law attorney to ensure that his or her rights are protected.

At Nigohosian and Dahlquist, we represent the rights of parents who are involved in child custody disputes. We work with clients throughout DuPage County and the surrounding areas and have the experience and skill to obtain the best possible result in your case. We work closely with our clients in order to ensure that we fully understand their unique situation and use that understanding to advocate on behalf of our clients in negotiation or before a court.

Decision-Making Responsibilties

In 2016, Illinois law changed to refer to the “allocation of parental responsibilities” rather than “child custody.” The change in the law is intended to foster cooperation between parents regarding matters related to raising their children. Under the law, courts can grant parents decision-making authority regarding the following issues:

• Health
• Education
• Extracurricular activities
• Religion

If parents can come to a consensus about the way they will manage these matters, they can submit a joint parenting plan to the court. If the parents cannot agree, however, the court will put into effect an order that is in the best interests of the child. Regardless of the situation, parents have 120 days to file a parenting plan with the court from the time they petition for any change in the allocation of parental responsibilities.

Courts may consider a variety of factors regarding the allocation of parental responsibilities, including each parent’s mental and physical health, the child’s wishes, the child’s needs, and the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and/or encourage a continuing relationship between the other parent and the child.

Parenting Time and Visitation in Illinois

Under Illinois law, both parents are ideally awarded a degree of parenting time regardless of how the decision-making responsibilities are allocated. Parenting time refers to the amount of time that either parent is performing caretaking functions for his or her child. Courts award parenting time considerations based on the child's best interests.

Additionally, though Illinois law has changed to eliminate "visitation" terms for parents, visitation can still be granted to a non-parental figure (such as a grandparent, great-grandparent, sibling, step-parent, etc.) to spend time with a child.

Contact a DuPage County Child Custody Lawyer Today

The allocation of parental responsibilities is often a contentious and emotionally charged issue. For this reason, coming to an agreement about how parents should share these responsibilities can be extraordinarily difficult for parents. At Nigohosian & Dahlquist, we are committed to representing the rights of parents and work hard to ensure that our clients obtain the best possible outcome. We work with clients in Wheaton, Downers Grove, Lisle, Hinsdale, Glenn Ellyn, and throughout Cook, Kane, Kendall, and Will Counties. To schedule a consultation, call us today at 630-462-0610 or contact us online.