Trusted Chicago Child Custody Lawyers
Child Custody Lawyers representing Illinois parents and families to proactively managing child visitation schedules and parental responsibilities allocation agreements to fighting complex child custody battles.
We are dedicated to our clients and the well-being of all children involved in child allocation plans.
Anderson & Boback are family and child custody lawyers with extensive experience in all child-related cases, helping our clients to determine the best child custody plan for all parties involved. We listen to your concerns and help develop the plan that is in the best interest of the child, relieving a lot of stress for the parents and the children.
Child Custody in Illinois | Divorcing with Children
Illinois Child Custody and Parenting Time
When parents decide to separate, addressing child custody is a top concern. While common terms like “joint custody”, “sole custody” and “visitation” come to mind, this terminology is no longer used in Illinois. Instead, custody and visitation is replaced with the terms “allocation of parental responsibilities” and “parenting time”.
When parents divorce or separate, rather than entering into a “Custody Agreement” an Illinois family law court will enter an “Allocation Judgment”. Allocation Judgments allow the parents to pick and choose, or allocate, which responsibilities they will be responsible for as it relates to their child.
One parent can now be responsible for school decisions and the other can be responsible for medical care.
If the parents choose to continue sharing those responsibilities, the agreement can be written that way as well.
How Do Our Child Custody Attorneys Help You?
We help you sift through the legal jargon to answer the questions that matter most to you.
At Anderson & Boback, our experienced child custody and visitation attorneys will help you determine the best parental responsibility allocation arrangement that is in the best interest of your child. We understand that time with your children is one of the biggest causes of conflict during divorce.
With extensive experience helping clients resolve high conflict child custody cases, our family law attorneys have a track record of success addressing a wide range custody issues, including:
Common Questions about Illinois Child Custody,
Child Visitation, and Parental Responsibilities
The Illinois Marriage and Dissolutions of Marriage Act requires the establishment of a parenting plan to determine the allocation of parental responsibility regarding parenting time and decision making on behalf of the child. A parenting plan includes how all significant parenting decisions will be made, how much time the child will spend in each home, how they will be transported back and forth and how holidays and vacations are shared.
Child custody lawyers will help draft your parenting plan, which must be approved by the family court judge. When reviewing a drafted parenting plan, the judge will consider the following factors:
- The wishes of the child
- The wishes of both parents
- The relationship between the child, parents, and siblings that impact the child’s stability and happiness
- The impact of the parenting plan on the child’s happiness and performance in school
- The mental well-being and health of the parents and child
- Any issues of domestic violence
- Any issues of threats or child abuse
- Any issues of story of sex abuse of either parent
- The willingness of the parents to encourage a relationship with the other parent
Once an allocation of parental responsibility is approved by the judge and becomes a court order that can only be altered by legal modification. An allocation judgment regarding parenting time can be modified at any time with a showing a change in circumstances making it necessary in order to serve the best interests of the child.
If a child allocation plan cannot be reached through negotiation or mediation, formal settlement negotiations in court may be required. While it is preferred that parents come to an amicable agreement, our custody lawyers always prepare to litigate in court as a last resort. Developing child allocation plans and establishing parenting time is always an emotional process, the last thing anyone wants is for the children to be caught in the middle.
Download our Illinois Child Custody Playbook today!
Get the information you need for child custody with our free resource – Illinois Child Custody Playbook.
Chicago Child Custody Lawyers Ready to Fight for You
Advocating for parents and their children is at the heart of what we do. Whether you are going through a divorce or you and the other parent were never married, you can count on our child custody attorneys to guide you with sound legal advice and aggressive representation to ensure the best outcome for you and your children.
We work diligently as your advocate during child custody cases. Don’t take any chances, work with experienced child custody attorneys to strategize the best parenting plan.
Anderson & Boback is routinely called upon by the courts to serve as child advocates, as we have extensive experience in child-related cases. The assistance from a well-established custody lawyer is vital to obtaining the child allocation plan you desire, that is in the best interest of your family.
