Downers Grove Child Custody Lawyers

Trusted Family Law Attorneys Prioritizing Children's Best Interests in Downers Grove, IL Child Custody Cases

Trying to reach agreements with your future ex about your children is often the most bitterly disputed aspect of your separation or divorce. Now called the allocation of parental responsibilities, child custody and parenting time arrangements must be set down in a comprehensive parenting plan. It can be hard to think clearly about what is in your children's best interests, especially if your separation involves a lot of conflict. Choosing the right family law attorney is very important, because you need to trust their guidance in this difficult matter.

Goostree Law Group has been providing effective representation to Illinois parents for over 20 years. We understand the emotional aspect of legal issues involving your children, so we offer our full and compassionate support as we help you determine the best path to take. Your custody case may involve unique challenges, so we will customize our approach to fit your circumstances and goals, always focusing on the best interests of your children.

Legal and Physical Custody in Illinois

Parents have the right to make major decisions for their minor children. You may have shared this responsibility when you were together, but you will need to decide if you will continue to share custody after your split. Legal custody grants either one (sole custody) or both parents (joint custody) decision-making authority for important things like healthcare, religion, and education.

Physical custody, which is now called parenting time, refers to when the children will live with each parent or spend time in their care. In many cases, custody is split somewhat evenly. In other cases, one parent may have primary custody, and the other parent may have regular parenting time.

It is incredibly important to consider various factors when developing your parenting time plan, such as:

• The children's ages, as they have different needs at different developmental stages
• The role each parent has played in the children's lives
• The fitness of each parent to care for the children
• Each parent's living situation
• Whether the children's safety may be at risk when spending time with either parent
• Each parent's willingness to help their children maintain a healthy relationship with the other parent
• Whether either parent is engaged in criminal activities or other dangerous behaviors
• Any instances of domestic violence
• Each parent's work schedule
• The children's preferences, depending on their age and maturity

If the court has to make decisions regarding custody and parenting time, the best interests of the children are the guiding standard. We can help you create a parenting time schedule and parenting plan that will meet the court's approval.

Call 630-584-4800 and let us help your family.

Challenges You Could Face in Downers Grove, Illinois Custody Disputes

Every family is unique, and you may encounter situations that can pose challenges in your custody case. We know how to take appropriate action to help you address and resolve things like:

• Parental relocation
• Children with special needs
• Paternity issues
• Severing parental rights
• Criminal charges or incarceration
• Modifications or enforcement of existing child custody orders

We will work to protect your parental rights while advocating for your children's best interests, regardless of the issues involved.