Divorce is among the most stressful experiences a person can go through in life, and parents who are divorcing may have to deal with issues of custody and support. Child custody cases can be severely contentious in Illinois, as they involve decisions that will impact the parents and the children for years. When possible, parents should strive to establish a co-parenting plan that serves the needs of all parties without relying entirely on judges for decisions.
Where they can’t agree though, there are some things parents should keep in mind to make their co-parenting efforts more likely to succeed. The parents should face their own emotions regarding the relationship ending, and attempt to let go of any anger or bitterness. Lingering negative emotions between the parents are potentially detrimental to the children. Each of the parents should stay focused on the best interests of the child. Neither parent should ignore the existence of the other because to do so is to invalidate some part of the child.
Each of the parents should approach visitation and custody requests reasonably. It is not about getting access to the child as much as possible or about denying the other parent access. Indeed, if the parent has custody and must rely on others to take care of the kid due to other obligations, that can run counter to the best interests of the child. Parents should make room for the children and make sure they have enough space for the children to stay during custody times.
In an Illinois case where a parent is going through a custody dispute, an attorney might be able to help. An attorney with experience in family law might develop a custody or visitation plan and negotiate acceptance with the other side. An attorney may also bring motions or argue on the client’s behalf during child custody hearings.