More Than 105 Combined Years Of Experience At Your Side In Illinois

Dedicated Lawyers in Wheaton to Address Your Parenting Responsibilities

The allocation of Parental Responsibilities is frequently an area of dispute when divorce is involved. While it is ideal to work out a Parenting Plan setting forth the allocation of parenting time and decision-making in a collaborative setting, contentious disputes often require the focus of an experienced family law attorney. Are you looking to modify your parenting time or how decisions are made on behalf of your children? The lawyers at Beck & Houlihan, P.C., can help ensure you have adequate time with your child. Our attorneys can help parents with the emotional stress that is typically associated with addressing these issues of the heart.

With over 105 years of collective experience and a focus on methods of alternative dispute resolution, mediation and collaborative law, our skilled family law attorneys have helped countless families with these issues. However, when necessary, we will bring your family matter to court, and litigate your concern. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience, and we are highly respected by the judiciary and attorneys in the community.

Illinois Allocation of Parental Decision-Making Laws (Formerly Referred to as Custody)

In parenting cases, Illinois courts address the allocation of parenting decision-making in the areas of education, health, religion and extra-curricular activities. The court will apply as the standard the best interest of the child. In determining this, the court will take the following factors into account:

  • The wishes of the child’s parents
  • The wishes of the child
  • The interaction and interrelationship of the child with their parents, siblings, and anyone else who may affect their best interest, including the parents ability to cooperate and/or the level of conflict
  • The level of each parent’s participation in the past and any prior agreements
  • The child’s adjustment to their home, school, and community
  • The distance between the parents’ residences, the parties’ schedules, the transportation to accommodate the parenting time and the parties’ ability to cooperate with the arrangement
  • Everyone’s mental and physical health (parents, child, etc.)
  • The child’s needs
  • Whether a restriction of decision-making or parenting time is appropriate
  • The physical violence or threat of physical violence by a child’s parent (whether towards the child or someone else)
  • The occurrence of ongoing or repeated abuse (either against the child or another person)
  • The willingness and ability of each parent to encourage a close relationship between the other parent and the child
  • Whether one of the parents is a sex offender

Modification of The Allocation of Parental Responsibilities Orders

Circumstances with families are constantly changing; children’s needs, parents’ schedules, and perhaps even employment and income. Oftentimes, agreements as to the allocation of decision-making and parenting time need to be changed. In these circumstances, the attorneys at Beck & Houlihan, P.C., can help you seek the necessary modifications to your parenting plan.

Changes to Custody in 2016

​Starting in 2016, child custody determinations were updated with an amendment to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act that ended sole vs. joint custody. The courts now focus on the allocation of parental responsibility rather than determining a primary custodian. Responsibilities are broken into categories reflecting different needs, such as education, medical, religion and extra-curricular activities. Both parents can share the decision-making for different categories equally, or the responsibilities may be solely assigned to one.

Contact Experienced Wheaton Child Custody Attorneys in The Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

Our firm also handles disputes related to the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities that frequently occur following divorce. Contact us at 630-398-3185 today. We serve clients in DuPage, Cook, Will, Kendall and Kane counties.