Child Custody / Parenting Time
If you are going through a divorce and have children caught in the middle, you will need an allocation (formerly custody) agreement to determine who will be the main care provider. At Luckett & Ashford, we work hard to negotiate a fair arrangement that maintains a strong relationship between you and your children following a divorce settlement.
Because your relationship with your children is at stake, it is understandable that the child custody process can be a difficult time. We are used to seeing our clients at some of their most vulnerable moments. What separates us from other child custody attorneys is the extraordinary amount of consideration we have for the emotional needs of our clients. Calling us today for a consultation with one of our child custody lawyers is your first step towards getting the settlement your children deserve.
Whether you and the other parent are going from one home to two homes, or have been in separate homes and have reached a breakdown in communication/cooperation, the attorneys at Luckett & Ashford can help you preserve your relationship with your children.
In 2016, the Illinois Child Custody law underwent changes. Under the old law, custody was generally divided into joint custody and sole custody. The difference between these two types of arrangements was focused on which parent would be making the decisions with regards to the areas of a child’s life, including education, healthcare and extracurricular activities.
Under the new law, decision-making authority regarding these major areas is no longer granted to one or both parents. Instead, the court determines which parent should be responsible for each area in the child’s life, called “parental responsibilities.” For example, one parent could have decision-making power over the child’s education, while the other has power to decide their healthcare. The judge can also decide both parents are responsible for all subjects.
Another law change that took place in 2016 was “visitation time” has been replaced with “parenting time.” Under the new law, parenting time schedules will be determined differently than before. The court will decide on parenting schedule based on the “best interests of the child. ” The new law also states that a parent who has not been granted significant decision-making power (under “parental responsibilities”) will be entitled to a reasonable parenting time schedule with the child.
We begin by inviting you into our offices for as long as you need to have all of your questions answered. The more questions you ask us, the better we understand your needs, allowing us to represent you better.