If you have a minor child from a relationship and have plans to end that relationship, you will need to learn more about how child custody works under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA). Whether you are getting divorced or are planning to separate from your child’s other parent (to whom you were never married), you should familiarize yourself with the new ways in which Illinois courts handle child custody issues. Rather than using the terminology of ‘child custody,’ Illinois law now refers to ‘parental responsibilities’ and ‘parenting time’. While the language has changed, the essential elements of legal and physical responsibilities for the child have remained similar.
Instead of awarding legal custody and physical custody, courts now allocate parental responsibilities. If you have questions, an experienced and compassionate Oak Park child custody attorney at our firm can answer your questions today.
At Arami Law, we assist families with many kinds of legal issues related to child custody, including but not limited to the following:
What are parental responsibilities under Illinois law? In general, there are two different components to parental responsibilities as the statute defines them:
Significant decision-making responsibilities can include, for example, making decisions about the child’s education, the child’s healthcare, and the child’s religious upbringing. Caretaking functions, on the other hand, are defined by the IMDMA as the daily tasks required to care for the child’s needs. Examples might include:
Both significant decision-making responsibilities and parenting time can be allocated by the parents in what is known as a “parenting plan.” In situations in which the parents cannot agree to the allocation of parental responsibilities, the court can allocate parental responsibilities in an allocation judgment.
Child custody cases can be particularly contentious, and it is important to have a lawyer on your side who can advocate for your rights as a parent. A dedicated Oak Park child custody lawyer can answer any questions you have about parental responsibilities in Illinois. Contact Arami Law today.
We are here to help you succeed and protect what you value most.