In Illinois, you can only seek custody modification two years after the court has issued the original order. This rule is meant to allow time to see if the custody arrangement works well for your situation. Additionally, it prevents unnecessary and repetitive...
Administration
Child Custody
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How parental drug and alcohol abuse hurts children
Sharing custody of your child can be stressful, especially when you don’t have strong communication with the other parent. You might worry about what goes on at the other parent’s house, and how that home environment affects your child’s safety and well-being....
Things you should know about parent relocation in Illinois
To maintain the parent-child relationship, many separating parents create a parenting plan. This plan specifies each parent’s responsibilities and schedules with the child. One common schedule is where the nonprimary parent visits the child during weekends. This kind...
Why you need a parenting plan before the divorce is final
Maybe you and your co-parent are doing a “trial separation” to spend some time apart before you decide whether to divorce. Maybe you’re going through the divorce process, but it’s taking some time, which is not uncommon. Either way, if you’re living apart and sharing...
Is your custody arrangement outdated?
Ideally, you and your co-parent will have managed to negotiate a custody arrangement which was then signed off on by the courts. If not, then the court will have stepped in and drafted a custody order based on the best interests of the child. In any event, the final...
Can birdnesting work for you and your ex?
Birdnesting may be a viable option if you and your ex-spouse are still friendly after your divorce. This approach allows children to stay in the same home while their parents rotate living there on a temporary basis. Here's what you need to know about this...
Co-parenting requires significant cooperation
Parents divorcing means that they need to consider what’s happening with the children. This often means they need to focus solely on how things will affect the children. The things that led to their split can’t play a role in any decision they make. As co-parents,...
Co-parents can still provide an ideal living situation
If you’ve ever heard someone say that they are staying together for the kids, they’re talking about a situation in which they want to get divorced. However, since they have children, they believe that it is best for the kids if they don’t get divorced. They think this...
Good faith reasons to move with the kids after a divorce
After a divorce, if you and your ex share custody of your children, you have to consider this when making major life decisions. Before getting married, for example, you were free to move wherever you want. But now moving may be more difficult because you have to...
How do judges decide what’s in the best interests of the child?
Going through a divorce and trying to manage all of the issues that develop may not be easy. In fact, you and your spouse may realize this is the most difficult time in your lives—and those of your children. One of the biggest questions you and your children may share...