Even under the best circumstances, determining child custody (the “allocation of parental responsibilities” in Illinois) can be difficult at best. If one parent has a criminal history, that may make the determination of parental responsibilities even more complex. A spouse who did not care about the other’s criminal history when they met may now try to use that history as a means of preventing the other parent from spending much time with the couple’s child.
Illinois courts care about the child’s best interests rather than penalizing a parent with a criminal record. This means that while a criminal history may be one factor the court will consider, it is far from the only factor, and it may not even be the most important factor. If you have a criminal record and want to know how it will affect the determination of parental responsibilities and parenting time, it is time to speak to a knowledgeable Will County, IL family law attorney.