Northbrook, IL Child Custody Lawyer

Attorney for Parenting Plans in Chicago's North Shore

Child custody cases can be very emotionally charged. Few things can provoke stronger emotions in a parent than the threat of not getting to spend much time with their child. Right away, you should know that Illinois courts heavily favor joint custody arrangements in nearly all cases. However, "joint custody" does not necessarily mean that all parenting issues will be divided 50/50. It simply means that each parent has at least some parenting time, and they will both participate in making decisions about how their child will be raised. Which parent will have parenting time when - and how - depends heavily on the particular circumstances of your case and what is best for the child. There are two ways parents establish a custody schedule. The first is by agreement. The other is by asking a court to decide.

Sucharski Law Firm LLC takes child custody cases with the utmost seriousness, because we fully understand what is at stake. There is nothing more precious to a parent than their relationship with their child. When we take on a child custody case, independently or as part of a divorce, we are guarding the bond between you and your child. We fight with all we have in parenting time cases. Our attorneys are highly experienced in creating parenting plans that meet our clients' needs and preferences.

Making a Parenting Plan Out of Court

Many parents use collaborative divorce or mediation strategies to design a child custody plan together. If you and your spouse are good candidates for any form of collaborative divorce, this course of action is highly recommended. Agreeing on a parenting plan keeps your child removed from the conflict. They will not need to go to court and testify or be interviewed by a Guardian ad Litem in most cases.

Asking the Court to Make a Parenting Plan

If you and your spouse are unlikely to be able to agree to a custody schedule for whatever reason, you will likely need to ask the court to create your parenting plan for you. The court will consider factors like:

• Which parent is the primary caregiver
• Preferences of the parents and children
• The child's relationship with each parent, siblings, and others in either parent's household
• The child's particular needs
• The physical and mental health of all involved
• Any accusations of violence or abuse by one parent towards the children or the other parent
• Prior agreements between the parents
• How easy or difficult it would be to move the child between households regularly
• The child's level of adjustment to their home, school, and community,
• Each parent's willingness to cooperate with custody exchanges and foster a relationship between the child and the other parent
• Any other factor the court deems relevant

You should also know that it is explicitly stated in Illinois law that courts may not consider any conduct by a parent that does not affect their relationship with the child. If you are worried about the other parent bringing up things you have done that have no bearing on your parenting ability in an effort to embarrass you or make you look like a bad parent, you can likely relax. The court will generally not consider irrelevant anecdotes or accusations, even if they cast you in a negative light, unless these issues have some impact on your relationship with your child.

Contact a Northbrook Child Custody Lawyer

Sucharski Law Firm LLC is honored to represent parents and their children in child custody cases. Our dedicated DuPage County child custody attorneys will do all we can to get you the maximum parenting time and ensure that you will be able to share parental responsibilities. If necessary, we can advocate for sole custody by demonstrating that this would be in your child's best interests. Contact us at 224-276-6600 for a complimentary consultation.