DuPage County Parenting Time Attorney

Attorney for Visitation and Parenting Plans in Wheaton, IL

Any legal matters related to child custody can have a major impact on the lives of both the children and the parents, and this impact is perhaps most noticeable on a daily basis when it comes to decisions involving the allocation of parenting time. A parenting time agreement can be crucial for protecting the children's best interests, including their relationships with each parent.

As you work toward a parenting time resolution that meets your family's needs, an experienced family law attorney can help. Attorney Jessica Sendek has represented parents in parenting time and other child custody matters since 2007, and she will guide and represent you through the best possible approach to achieving your desired outcome. She strives to make her services accessible and to give you and your family the personal, individual attention that you are looking for.

Parenting Time Responsibilities

During a divorce or any other legal proceeding involving the allocation of parental responsibilities, parenting time refers specifically to the time that the children will reside with each parent. During a parent's allocated time, he or she has the responsibility to fulfill the role of the children's caretaker, which includes attending to their nutrition, sleep schedule, hygiene, health and safety, discipline, education, developmental needs, moral guidance, and other parental duties. Parents also have the authority to make routine and emergency decisions related to the children during their scheduled time.

Important Considerations in Creating a Parenting Time Agreement

Parents will either need to work together to create a parenting time schedule as part of their parenting plan, or they will need to bring the issue before the court in a trial, where a judge will render a decision after hearing the facts. In either case, the children's best interests are the most important priority, so it is necessary to consider factors including:

• The children's wishes, especially if they have the maturity to express their own preferences
• The children's relationship with each parent and their siblings
• The children's needs and each parent's ability to provide for them
• The children's routine, including their daily schedule and their connection to their home, school, and local community
• Any history of harm or danger to the children that would necessitate restrictions on either parent's allocated time

In most cases, it is also important for parents to create a parenting time agreement that considers their own needs and their ability to work together to co-parent effectively. A detailed, comprehensive parenting time agreement typically includes most or all of the following:

• A schedule of the days the children will spend with each parent on a regular basis
• Parenting time provisions for holidays, school breaks, and other special occasions
• A plan for transporting the children on time and safely between the parents' homes
• Rules or guidelines for communication between the parents, or between the children and a parent during the other parent's scheduled time
• A provision for the right of first refusal, if appropriate, which gives the other parent the first opportunity for time with the children when a parent needs child care during his or her scheduled time.
• Provisions for handling parental relocation, future modifications to the schedule, and the resolution of disagreements

It is also important to note that in the case of a divorce, the allocation of parenting time can have implications on other elements of the divorce resolution, including orders for child support and spousal support, and even the division of marital property such as the family home if the court determines that it is important for the children to continue living there.

Contact a Naperville, IL Parenting Time Attorney

Navigating the interplay of all of the different factors in parenting time decisions can be challenging, but with the help of an attorney, it is possible to create a plan that protects your interests and suits your family's situation. For a free consultation on your case, contact us today at 630-358-9029. We serve clients in DuPage County, Will County, Cook County, Kane County, Naperville, Wheaton, Winfield, Warrenville, West Chicago, Glen Ellyn, and the surrounding areas.