River Forest Child Custody Attorney

In addition to being known as the location that two universities call home, River Forest is also regarded as a family-friendly suburb near Chicago. And while River Forest may indeed be the perfect spot for families with children–complete with many other young families, parks, and good schools–not all families are perfect; divorce happens. At the law offices of Gordon & Perlut, LLC, our River Forest Child custody attorneys can help you navigate the child custody process if you and your spouse are separating. Call our law firm today for the support you need.

Parental Responsibility in River Forest Illinois

Rather than using the term “custody,” Illinois courts use the term “parental responsibility” to refer to a parent’s rights and obligations regarding their children. In a child custody determination, parental responsibilities will be allocated amongst the parents. There are two types of parental responsibilities that a court will consider:

• Parenting time. Parents (or the Court) will need to make a decision about how much time each parent is allocated to spend with their child. This is also known as physical custody and refers to where the child will live, what the visitation rights of the other parent will be, etc.
• Decision-making responsibility. In addition to physical custody, parents will need to make a decision about legal custody – that is, what the rights of each parent are related to making decisions about the child.

In some cases, responsibilities will be shared equally or jointly; in other cases, one parent may have more parenting time with the child. It is rare for a court to fully revoke all parental responsibilities and rights.

How Courts Make a Decision About the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities in River Forest

In River Forest, parents are strongly encouraged to work together outside of the court to create a parenting plan that outlines each parent’s responsibilities, rights, and obligations pertaining to both physical and legal custody. In creating a parenting plan together, parents will have the autonomy to reach a decision that they both agree to.

If parents cannot collaborate to create a parenting plan, then each parent will need to present their case to the court. After hearing both parties’ sides, the court will make a decision about the allocation of parental responsibilities based on the best interests of the child. The child’s best interests will be determined by considering the wishes of the child, the child’s needs, the wishes of the parents, the ability of the parents to cooperate, the child’s adjustment to their home and community, and more.

Call Our River Forest Child Custody Attorneys Today

At the law offices of Gordon & Perlut, LLC, our River Forest child custody attorneys understand how emotional fighting for the custody of your child can be. Even if you and your spouse are in agreement, there is nothing easy about not being able to spend as much time as you want with your child. If you are seeking custody and want representation from experienced professionals, please call our River Forest child custody attorneys today for a consultation. We are here to serve you.