Plainfield Child Custody and Visitation Attorneys
Child Custody and Visitation Lawyers in Kendall County
Whether you are going through a divorce or involved in a paternity dispute, issues of child custody and visitation are often very difficult to resolve. Whenever children are involved, emotions run high, and finding a mutually satisfactory resolution can be elusive. At the Kendall County family law firm of Goostree Law Group, we are skilled in negotiating and litigating child custody and visitation matters. We strongly advocate for our clients’ rights and objectives and work hard to achieve a solution that is in your best interests as well as your child’s.
Experienced Child Custody and Visitation Representation in Kendall County
When parents are divorced or unmarried, one parent is either awarded sole custody or both parents are awarded joint custody. In a sole custody situation, the custodial parent has total authority over decisions related to the child. In a joint custody situation, generally the child lives with only one parent, the residential parent, and the other parent enjoys visitation rights. Alternatively, the child could split time living with each parent, which is an arrangement called joint residential custody. Regardless of the living situation, joint custody parents h:ave joint decision-making power for major child-related decisions.
These days, the courts lean towards awarding joint custody unless there are extenuating circumstances. Joint custody arrangements require both parents to work together collaboratively for the benefit of the child(ren). To that end, a Joint Parenting Agreement (JPA) is required, which outlines a number of pertinent terms including:
- Living arrangements;
- Visitation schedules;
- How the parents will transfer the child from one to the other;
- How educational decisions will be made;
- How medical decisions will be made;
- How religious decisions will be made;
- Rules for electronic communications (phone, text, email, etc.);
- Rules for meeting new romantic partners; and
- How disputes and disagreements over parenting decisions will be handled.
The more detailed a JPA is, the less room there is for future disagreements. Our attorneys are skilled in negotiating and drafting effective Joint Parenting Agreements that provide our clients and their co-parents with a clear understanding of what is expected of each party. Should problems with the custody or visitation arrangement arise in the future, we are also skilled in handling modifications to and enforcement of child custody and visitation agreements and orders.
If you are dealing with a dispute over child custody and/or visitation, contact us at 630-882-5668 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options. One of our attorneys will review the circumstances of your dispute, answer your questions, and offer our assessment on your case. Our firm works with clients throughout Northern Illinois including Kendall County and the surrounding areas.
