Illinois Child Custody and Visitation Rights Attorney
Quality time with your child following a divorce is a precious commodity. How to divide time with your child is a decision that you and your ex-spouse - not a judge - should make. Future relationships between the two of you, and you and your child are too important to leave anything to chance. At the Law Office of Christopher Haaff in Crystal Lake, Illinois, we represent clients dealing with complicated and contentious child custody and visitation issues. If an agreement is not readily achieved, mediation is mandated, under state and local court rules. Contact us for experienced advocacy in a family law conflict.
Mediation and Litigation in Custody Disputes
In the State of Illinois, mediation is required if child custody is contested between the two parents. If all efforts in mediation fail, then the parents will have to allow the courts to decide important, life-changing decisions. The courts will look at all the facts during litigation, all the while hoping the issues can still be resolved through continued mediation.
- Legal custody: Legal custody refers to decision making powers for major decisions affecting the child, such as schooling, religious upbringing, medical care, etc. In most situations, it is in the child's best interests for the parents to have joint legal custody.
- Physical custody: Physical custody refers to the home in which your child resides. Generally, even if there is joint physical custody, the child will reside primarily in one parent's home and the other parent will have reasonable visitation or parenting time.
If you and your spouse cannot agree on legal custody, physical custody, joint custody, or sole custody, the courts will make that decision for you. Their goal should be your goal as well: the best interests of the children.
Gathering Information in a Child Custody Case
In contested custody litigation, neighbors, doctors, teachers, and other persons involved with you and your child may be interviewed to get a full picture of your situation. Your child's report card and grades will likely be reviewed. Mental health and psychological evaluations may be ordered for the divorcing parents. At the Law Office of Christopher Haaff, we see child custody litigation as complex and emotional, and we encourage our clients to put their differences aside and resolve their issues through mediation.
Contact Us
For more information about custody or visitation or about modifications of existing orders, talk with an experienced child custody and visitation lawyer at our firm. To schedule an appointment to discuss your family law problem, please contact our Crystal Lake law firm.
