Divorce Lawyers of Chicago

Child Custody Lawyers

Family Law Practice Areas

Practice Areas

Adoption

Alimony & Maintenance

Annulment

Child Custody

Child Support

Divorce

Family Law

Fathers’ Rights

Gay & Lesbian Divorce

Grandparents’ Rights

High Net Worth Divorce

Legal Separation

Mediation

Order of Protection

Paternity

Pre and Post Nuptial Agreements

Property Division

Visitation

Child Custody Lawyers in Chicago

Experienced & Reliable Advocates for Your Parental Rights

One of the most emotionally charged aspects of a divorce or paternity case is determining who will make major parenting decisions and a parenting time schedule. Our experienced Illinois child custody attorneys want to ensure the decisions made on behalf of your children are truly in their best interests and yours. With over 50 years of combined experience in practicing family law in Illinois, the Illinois custody attorneys at Abramovitch Blalock & McKinnon are prepared to give you highly qualified legal advice, offer reasonable collaborative services, and aggressively advocate on your behalf in court.

 

Child Custody Lawyers in Chicago

What are Child Custody Laws in Illinois?

The state of Illinois no longer recognizes “custody” between parents, and instead uses the term “allocation of parental responsibilities.” The court will enter an allocation judgment that determines who makes major decisions on behalf of the child, specifically in the areas of education, health, religion, and extracurricular activities. These decisions can be made solely by one parent, or jointly by both parents, and the designation can be different for each area. Sole allocation allows only one parent to make these important decisions for the child while joint allocation assures that these decisions are made by both parents jointly. Some of these decisions can be specified in the allocation judgment, such as what school a child will attend and what religion the child will practice. Allocation of parental responsibilities is a distinct issue from visitation or a parenting time schedule, and both are separate components of the allocation judgment.

Consult our highly experienced Child Custody attorneys at (312) 372-1639 or email us at info@abmfamilylaw.com.

Understanding Best Interest

If parents are not in agreement on how these decisions will be made, the court determines what is in the child’s best interests. The child’s best interests are determined by looking at many factors, including:

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Wishes of the child, depending on their age and maturity

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Child’s adjustment to their home, school, and community

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Health of child and parties

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Ability of parents to cooperate to make decisions

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Past involvement in making significant decisions for the child

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Distance between parents’ residences

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Willingness and ability of each parent to foster a positive relationship between the child and other parents

Cases involving children are often complicated and very emotional, and each set of circumstances is unique. The attorneys at Abramovitch Blalock & McKinnon can ensure your parental rights are protected through providing compassion, advice, and guidance, as well as assertive advocacy in court.

Let’s Work Together

Contact Abramovitch Blalock & McKinnon, LLC today