As children grow their needs change, and so should your parenting plan. Arrangements that may have worked for your family when you were first divorced may no longer be serving you now that your children are older. In these instances, one or both parents may seek to...
Child Custody
Can you control who a co-parent asks to watch your kids?
Many parents believe there is a right way and a wrong way to raise children. Still, according to Psychology Today, there are four distinct parenting styles, each of which may have a different psychological effect on your kids. If your former partner has a different...
What to do when co-parenting does not work?
Amid a divorce, you will likely hear that co-parenting is more beneficial to your children. Co-parenting requires you and your spouse to maintain an amicable relationship while working towards your children's best interests. However, not all divorces end in a way that...
What is joint custody?
There are many different ways a court can divide and arrange custody. However, the different plans always follow certain rules. The Illinois Department of Human Services explains one of the common options for custody is joint custody, which covers any situation where...
What if you have to move away from your co-parent and children?
A big move can serve as a giant life stressor even in the best of circumstances. In a situation involving divorce, it can cause even more stress. After all, you have already worked so hard to come up with a viable co-parenting schedule. But life sometimes takes you...
Why are “best interests” an important consideration?
Divorce can disrupt your child's life and create uncertainty and fear. Your proactive approach to helping your child understand the circumstances may alleviate some stress and provide comfort. in Illinois is one of the states that consider the "best interests" of your...
What rights do godparents have?
If you and your spouse or partner named godparents for your children, such as at their baptisms, you may think that these people will step in and finish raising your children if something happens to you. Unfortunately, such is not the case. While your children’s...
Tips for creating a parenting plan that works
Are you going through an in Illinois divorce? If you have minor children, you must have a court-approved parenting plan approved by the court. Unless your ex has no parental rights due to your unique situation, you both have parenting responsibilities under state law....
Race, education factors in whether fathers live with children
Recent studies consistently show that children benefit when parenting time is nearly equal between mothers and fathers. Unfortunately, the law is still catching up to science. According to STAT, even some psychologists believe that in custody decisions involving young...
What it means to relocate in good faith
Having divorced parents raise a child in the same community is often the preferable way to give a child a stable upbringing. The problem is that sometimes one parent lacks the financial or familial support to raise a child. This is why sometimes parents decide to...