Illinois family law judges have one primary obligation in child custody cases. Their most important responsibility is to make decisions that they believe are in children’s best interests. As a parent, your arrest on domestic violence charges is enough to potentially...
Defending What Matters Most
Child Custody
Parental alienation can result in the loss of custody
When couples break up or divorce, it is generally not on good terms. When minor children are added into the mix, that can bring out even more raw emotions and conflicts. Some parents may be so vengeful that they engage in parental alienation tactics. You should know...
Could your mental health diagnosis affect your custody rights in a divorce?
If you are going through a divorce and are also struggling with a mental health diagnosis, you may be concerned that your diagnosis could be used against you to interfere with your right to parent your child. This fear is, unfortunately, rooted in reality. The rates...
3 signs that it’s time to change your custody order
Custody orders usually include broad terminology so that they remain appropriate and effective even when personal circumstances change. You and your spouse or the courts probably tried to create a custody order with terms that would still work for your family even...
Easing the stress of joint custody for your children
It's become increasingly popular for family law judges here in Illinois and across the United States to award parents joint custody. Research in recent years continues to show that it's beneficial for kids to have both parents regularly present in their kids' lives....
Alcoholism and child custody: Are they incompatible?
There is a definite connection between alcoholism and divorce. Quite likely, there is also a corollary between parents getting divorced and increasing their alcohol uptake. That often happens when couples divorce and one or both parties spirals into a depression...
How divorce arguments can hurt children
For many years, divorce lawyers have told their clients to try to shelter their children from the arguments they have with their ex. There are many reasons for this. Perhaps the most important is the theory that children can suffer long-lasting emotional damage from...
Study shows joint custody really works
More and more, courts award joint custody to both parents when they decide to get divorced. Sole custody situations do still occur, typically when a child’s health and well-being are at stake, but they’re not used lightly. The courts prefer shared custody and consider...
What you need to know about mental health and child custody
Most people recognize that there are a few things that you should never ask others about and that their health is one such topic. Parents who find themselves negotiating over child custody may not have the luxury of keeping such information private, though. A parent's...
Post-divorce parenting: You need the same rules
One important thing that can make post-divorce parenting go smoothly is if you and your ex have the same rules for your children. This gives them the same sort of structure and routine that they would have experienced during the marriage, and it can reduce conflict....