Looking for affordable legal help, but unsure where to begin? Tap through to see the main custody and visitation problems we can help with. Scroll down to see plan language definitions of important terms.
Getting Custody of a Child
What does this mean?
Who can do this?
Getting Visitation with a Child
What does this mean?
Who can do this?
Changing a Custody Arrangement
What does this mean?
Who can do this?
Changing a Visitation Schedule
What does this mean?
Who can do this?
Definitions
Temporary Custody
Temporary custody is a temporary allocation of parental responsibilities (custody) to you, your spouse or partner, or both. This temporary allocation can only be made while the two of you are legally separated, and/or are currently in the process of divorcing or dissolving your civil union.If temporary custody is ordered, one parent will become the
Tax exemptions for minor children, otherwise known as dependency exemptions, is a certain amount of income related to the cost of caring for and raising a minor chid(s) that is deducted from one's annual tax payments.If you are the legal parent, or have been allocated parental responsibilities (custody) of a minor child(s) you may be able to claim
Supervised parenting time refers to the presence of an employee of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) during a certain parent's scheduled parenting time (visitation).A judge may order supervised parenting time if there is evidence that a parent has put a child's physical, emotional, or mental health in danger. Likewise,
Relocation is defined as moving over 25 miles from one's current place of residence to a new place of residence.If you have been allocated parental responsibilities (child custody) or parenting time (visitation rights), you MUST provide the child's other parent with a notice of motion at least 60 days prior to the intended date of relocation.The mo
Parenting time (visitation rights) refers to the amount of time a caregiver is allowed to spend time with a child. Parenting time is ordered by a judge in court through a parenting plan, which may also allocate parental responsibilities (custody arrangement).IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT PARENTING TIME:If you have been given parenting time with a
A parenting plan is a legally-binding document that orders the allocation of parental responsibilities (custody arrangement), parenting time (visitation rights), or both.The content of a parenting plan may include, but is not limited to the following information:which parent(s) has primary custody of the child(s)how much parenting time (visitation
The non-custodial parent is the legal parent of a child, but is NOT their primary caregiver. Instead, the custodial parent is the child's main caregiver and has primary custody. Unless it has been ordered otherwise by a parenting plan, the child's biological mother will typically be their custodial parent.If two parents have joint-custody, both par
A parenting plan (custody order) can be modified to change which caretaker has custody of a child(s), but only within TWO (2) YEARS of its originally being ordered. Additionally, a modification will only be approved if you can show to a judge in court that doing so would be in the best interest of the child(s).Modifying a parenting plan may result
A parenting plan (visitation schedule) can be modified to increase or decrease the amount of parenting time a caregiver has with the child(s).A modification may be granted if you can show to the judge that there has been a change in either caregivers capacity to care for the child(s) since the original parenting plan was ordered.Additional reasons
Joint-custody means that both parents are equally responsible taking care of their child. This means that both parents would be considered the child's custodial parent. If both parents of a child are married to or in a civil union with each other, the two parents would have joint-custody of the child(s).
If you have a parenting plan concerning minor child(s), and you or the other caregiver is not with the child(s) during their allotted parenting time (visitation rights) is prevented from spending their parenting time with the child(s), a judge may take measures to enforce parenting time.Actions that result from the enforcement of parenting time may
Caretaking functions refer to activities involving direct contact with a child, particularly those that relate to supervising and caring for a child. Caretaking functions include, but are not limited to the following activities: feeding and maintaining the child's health overseeing the development of critical skills, including language and motor
The allocation of parental responsibilities, often referred to as "child custody", legally determines which caretaker(s) is responsible for the caretaking functions of a child(s). A custody arrangement becomes legally binding through a parenting plan that is approved and ordered by a judge in court. Oftentimes, only one caretaker is given primary
The custodial parent is the legal parent of a child that is primarily responsible for the caretaking functions for a child. In other words, a custodial parent is the child's main caregiver. If the child has another other legal parent in addition to their custodial parent, that other parent would be the child's non-custodial parent. A person can bec