Lombard Child Custody Attorney

Attorneys for Allocation of Parental Responsibility Serving DuPage County and Surrounding Cities

Questions of child custody and parental responsibilities are often the most emotional issues you will have to deal with when you are going through a divorce. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, we aggressively represent our clients in all matters related to children. We understand how important your children are to you, and we work hard to ensure that their interests are always at the forefront. Our lawyers provide legal services that work to achieve the best results for you and your children.

Do you believe you should have more parenting responsibilities than you currently do regarding your child? Contact our law firm at 630-932-9100 to discuss your concerns in a free consultation.

Child Custody and the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act governs child custody cases in Illinois, and it has undergone significant changes over the past decade. The law no longer uses the term "custody," and it takes a drastically different approach than what was used in the past. The concept of custody in general has shifted toward a focus on parental responsibilities. During and after divorce, neither parent will be considered a custodial or non-custodial parent; instead, each will have specific duties and decision-making authority.

Decision-Making Responsibilities

Since the law no longer refers to custody, it is important to understand how it currently addresses parents' roles. What was once referred to as "physical custody" is now called "parenting time." "Legal custody" is now referred to as "decision-making responsibilities," and it will typically be shared between parents, although certain areas of responsibility may be allocated primarily or solely to one parent, depending on the circumstances. The question of joint custody vs. sole custody is no longer valid in most divorce cases, since parents will typically share in both parental responsibility and parenting time.

The law identifies four areas of decision-making responsibility for parents:

• Education - Parents may decide where children will go to school, whether they will need any tutoring, and whether any other educational needs should be addressed.
• Healthcare - Parents may choose children's doctors, dentists, or other medical providers and make decisions about the medical care they receive.
• Religion - Parents may decide whether or where children will go to church, participate in religious activities, or receive religious training.
• Extracurricular activities - Parents may enroll children in sports, clubs, or other activities that take place outside of school, such as music or dance lessons, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, swimming lessons, or summer camps.

Decisions about how to allocate parental responsibilities will be based on the child's best interests. These decisions will be set down in a parenting plan, which will describe how the different areas of decision-making responsibilities will be allocated, as well as parenting time schedules, transportation arrangements, and how parents may resolve any disputes that arise. The parenting plan will be part of the couple's divorce decree, and it will function as a court order, so both parents will be required by law to follow its terms. Failure to do so may result in a parent being held in contempt of court.

Contact Our DuPage County Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Lawyers

At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, our clients receive quality legal services in a friendly atmosphere. We know that family issues, especially ones involving your children, can be emotional and confusing. Our law firm is client-focused, and we offer flexible hours and multiple decades of combined experience.

Do you have a question about child custody or parental responsibilities relating to your divorce? Are you contemplating divorce and have concerns about child custody issues? Contact our family law attorneys at 630-932-9100.

We offer quality legal representation in all matters related to divorce. At Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices, our other practice areas include property and asset division, child support, post-decree modifications, adoption, paternity or parentage, dissolution of arranged marriages, and pre and post-nuptial agreements. From our 3 convenient offices, we serve clients through DuPage, Kane, and Will Counties, including Lombard, Bloomingdale, and Naperville.