The not knowing part of how a child custody case will resolve in family court makes it particularly stressful. In the state of Illinois, child custody is called the allocation of parental responsibilities, and visitation is called parenting time. Every single case that has to do with parents and children is different, but the bottom line remains the same – if you and your spouse are unable to determine how to share parenting responsibilities and parenting time, the court will do it for you.
The court will decide whether one or both parents will make major decisions regarding health, religion, education, and extracurricular activities, whether the children will primarily reside with one parent or the parents will share parenting 50/50, and a schedule for parenting time. A parenting plan will be compiled that details virtually every decision regarding raising a child or children. If you are uneasy about how your case will resolve, speaking to a knowledgeable Wheaton, IL parental responsibilities lawyer can be beneficial.