It used to be relatively common for courts to give one parent custody of their children and ask the other parent to pay child support after a divorce. Over the years, however, things have shifted. Courts now try to maintain a relationship between the child and both...
Child Custody
Grandparents’ rights in child custody cases in Illinois
Grandparents significantly affect their grandchildren's lives by offering affection, help and a sense of security. However, when family dynamics change due to divorce or other circumstances, grandparents may fight for the right to keep a relationship with their...
Are you flying with your child over the holidays? Be prepared
If your holiday plans include flying with your child on vacation or to visit family, you may face some questions and challenges you didn’t when you and your co-parent traveled together with your child. That can be especially true if your child is biracial and looks...
What are the steps to get custody of a child as an unmarried father?
Children deserve the best care and attention from both parents during their upbringing for them to lead a wholesome life. However, circumstances may not always allow this and often, parents who are unmarried face challenges when seeking custody of their children....
How to keep custody exchanges calm and civil
When you have shared custody, you have to make custody exchanges with your co-parent – and those can be sources of tension (or even alarm) for both parents and children. It can be tough to keep things civil when there are still a lot of issues unsettled or you’re...
How to prepare for a child-custody hearing
Child custody hearings are crucial legal proceedings that determine the custody arrangements for a child following a separation or divorce. It’s essential to approach these hearings well-prepared to ensure the best possible outcome for the child involved. This guide...
Can you track your child when they’re with your ex?
Despite the tracking apps available for phones and other electronic devices, many parents don’t believe in tracking their kids. That’s especially true when they get into their teens and they can see this as a breach of trust. After separation or divorce, however, many...
Understanding the factors that determine a child’s best interests
In Illinois, the phrase "the child's best interests" is fundamental in cases involving a child's welfare. But what does it mean? How is it determined? As a parent, it's important for you to understand that decisions involving your child aren't arbitrary. They're based...
What you need to know about mediating a visitation schedule
When parents divorce or separate, it is important for them to work together to establish a visitation schedule that will work for them and their child. Part of establishing visitation includes arrangement for weekends, holidays, birthdays and other significant...
Is “birdnesting” after divorce the right choice for your child?
Co-parenting after divorce can be especially challenging when you have a child caught in the middle. You and your ex-spouse may struggle to determine the living arrangement that can protect your child’s growth and development. Depending on the allocation of parental...