Palatine Child Custody Lawyers

Illinois Child Custody Attorney Serving Clients in Palatine

Did you know that Illinois law no longer awards child custody? This does not mean that the court does not make determinations about how the parents will raise their children after a divorce. Instead, the language of the law has changed to reflect changes and nuances in family situations in Palatine and throughout the state of Illinois. What does the change in the law mean for you? There is no longer such as thing as “child custody” under Illinois law, and that terminology has been replaced with the language of “parental responsibilities” and “parenting time.”

If you are considering divorce or are just getting started on a child custody case, a compassionate Palatine child custody attorney can speak with you today about your options. An advocate at our firm is here to help.

What Are Significant Decision-Making Responsibilities for Parents in Palatine?

Under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), parenting time, together with significant decision-making responsibilities, make up “parental responsibilities” in the state. What is the difference between significant decision-making responsibilities and parenting time?

According to the statute, significant decision-making responsibilities with regard to the child typically include the following:

• Decisions about the child’s education, including where the child will go to school and who the child will work with in tutoring or other educational matters;
• Decisions about the child’s healthcare, including any medical, dental, or psychological healthcare needs that may arise;
• Decisions about the child’s religion and the child’s religious upbringing; and
• Decisions about the child’s extracurricular activities, including which extracurricular activities the child will be enrolled in and where the child will attend extracurricular activities.

These significant decision-making responsibilities can be shared between the parents equally, or they can be allocated to only one of the parents. For example, one of the parents may be entirely responsible for the child’s education, while the other parent may be tasked with making all significant decisions about the child’s healthcare. Then, both parents may share in making significant decisions about the child’s religious upbringing and extracurricular activities.

What is Parenting Time in Palatine, Illinois?

The statute defines parenting time as the time during which a parent exercises caretaking functions and non-significant decision-making responsibilities for the child. Caretaking functions can include but are not limited to the following:

• Satisfying nutritional needs of the child;
• Managing the child’s bedtime and wake-up times;
• Managing the child’s grooming and personal hygiene;
• Being responsible for the child’s physical safety;
• Providing the child’s transportation;
• Directing the developmental needs of the child;
• Providing discipline;
• Ensuring that the child attends school;
• Ensuring that the child attends healthcare appointments; an
• Helping the child to develop relationships with peers and family members.

A Palatine Child Custody Lawyer Can Help

You should not have to deal with the complications of an Illinois child custody case on your own. A Palatine child custody lawyer can assist you. The dedicated family law team at our firm can get started on your case today. Contact the Law Office of George M. Sanders, P.C. to learn more about our services.