Frequently Asked Questions
I Need a Quote. Whom Do I Contact?
The most accurate quotes will be given after an intake consultation. During the intake consultation we will discuss your unique situation and discuss how the law effects you. This can be scheduled simply by calling the office or submitting a request using the online form below
What Is Collaborative Law?
Collaborative law, also known as collaborative practice, divorce or family law, is a legal process enabling couples who have decided to separate or end their marriage to work with their collaborative professionals including collaboratively trained lawyers, coaches and financial professionals in order to avoid the uncertain outcome of court and to achieve a settlement that best meets the specific needs of both parties and their children without the underlying threat of litigation. The process allows parties to have a fair settlement.
The collaborative process can be used to facilitate a broad range of other family issues, including disputes between parents and the drawing up of pre and post-marital contracts. As the traditional method of drawing up pre-marital contracts is oppositional, many couples prefer to begin their married life with documents drawn up consensually and mutually. Collaborative law processes also have the added benefit of being cost efficient for the involved parties. As the necessary tasks in the collaborative model are assigned to specialist professionals without duplication of effort, cost savings are realized.
These cost efficiencies, in addition to other potential benefits, have led parties in other contexts to explore the use of collaborative law to resolve disputes, including M&A transactions.
What Are the Payment Methods You Accept?
We accept all of the following methods of payment, cash, checks, credit cards, Venmeo and Zelle.
Are You the Right Law Firm for Me?
A relationship with a lawyer or a law firm is like any other relationship, sometimes it is beneficial to both parities and sometimes it is not a good fit. It is best to schedule an intake consultation and talk directly with the lawyer who will be working your case.
How Will I Be Kept Informed about My Case?
You will receive updates after every court date via email. Lawyers and staff are available to take your calls as well. When documents are prepared on your behalf your will always be sent the final draft to review before the document is filed with the court. Communication is key and our firm strongly believes in keeping our clients up to date.
Child Custody
- Helping Parents Obtain Custody and/or Visitation of Their Children.
- Parental Relocation Requests & Abductions.
- International Family Law & Hague Convention Cases.
Child Custody
- Helping Parents Obtain Custody and/or Visitation of Their Children.
- Parental Relocation Requests & Abductions.
- International Family Law & Hague Convention Cases.
Child Custody
- Helping Parents Obtain Custody and/or Visitation of Their Children.
- Parental Relocation Requests & Abductions.
- International Family Law & Hague Convention Cases.
Child Custody
- Helping Parents Obtain Custody and/or Visitation of Their Children.
- Parental Relocation Requests & Abductions.
- International Family Law & Hague Convention Cases.
How Can I Contact Your Office?
Our Office is available for contact via email, phone, and in person communication. We always suggest a phone call to start any communication.
How Is Child Custody Determined?
To understand Illinois child custody laws, there are two main laws that apply: the Uniform Child-Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (federal) and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (state).
Parental Allocation of Responsibility and Parenting Time
Each parent must have a parenting plan, either submitted separately or jointly with the other parent.
The parenting plan outlines how you want to share parental responsibilities and parenting time.
Parental responsibilities include significant decision-making and parenting time. Parenting time is when caretaking functions are performed.
Under Illinois child custody laws, caretaking functions include, but are not limited to:
- Nutritional needs
- Bedtime and wake-up routines
- Care during sickness or injury
- Child’s personal hygiene (washing, grooming, dressing)
- Playing with child
- Extracurricular activities
- Child’s physical safety
- Transportation
- Developmental needs (motor/language skills, toilet training, self-confidence, maturity)
- Discipline and child’s behavioral control
- School-related responsibilities (attendance, remedial/special classes, school communication, homework)
- Interpersonal relationships (peers, siblings, family members)
Medical health care needs - Moral and ethical guidance
- Alternative care (child care providers and facilities)
When strategizing your parenting plan, you will share decision-making for the best caretaking methods, and how and when this caretaking will be performed.
For example, you may think it’s best your child attends a certain school. Your plan is to drop your child off at this school, but have the other parent pick them up and take them to extracurricular activities.
Your former spouse may or may not agree with this plan. Without an agreement the Court will require both parties to seek mediation to reach an agreement.
Whether you agree or disagree with each other, the court will ultimately decide if this plan is best for the child based on the IMDMA’s guidelines.
1. Parental Allocation of Responsibility
Parental allocation of responsibility prioritizes the child’s best interests. It doesn’t automatically assume it’s best to have an exact 50/50 split or one parent making most of the decisions.
Only significant decisions are part of parental responsibilities. Whichever parent has the child, can make non-significant decisions on their own.
The main areas allocated are:
- Education
- Health
- Religion
- Extracurricular activities
Each area can be jointly or separately decided. The court may determine only one or both parents make the significant decisions.
Even if both parents agree completely, court approval is not automatic. The court will weigh multiple factors for consideration in their final judgment.
Factors for Consideration
The factors for allocation may consider physical custody, but are not necessarily tied to physical custody like previous child custody law.
These factors include, but aren’t limited to:
- The child’s wishes
- The child’s needs
- The child’s adjustment to home, school, and community
- Any relevant mental and physical issues
- Cooperation and conflict between the parents
- Past parental participation
- Any prior agreements
- The parents’ wishes
- The distance between households
- Any relevant restrictions
- Whether or not parental involvement is encouraged
- Violence or threats of violence against the child
- Abuse present in the household
- Sex offender statuses
- Any factor the court finds relevant
By weighing all these factors, the court will protect the child from situations where one parent exerts undue influence over the other. It will also protect the child when neither parent has the child’s best interest in mind.
2. Parental Allocation of Parenting Time
After determining who will make the decisions for parenting responsibilities, you will work out shared parenting time.
In addition to parental responsibility factors, parental time factors include:
- The division of caretaking 24 months prior to filing
- The division of caretaking since birth (child less than 2 years)
- The willingness of the parent to consider the child’s needs before their own
- Military deployments
- Any other relevant factors
Parenting time can be difficult to coordinate if both parents work, live far away from each other, or have to travel consistently. The court will weigh who has done most of the caretaking prior to the divorce, and who will do most of it after.
Their consideration is not based on gender. A dad’s caretaking time carries as much weight as a mother’s caretaking time.
Illinois child custody laws also assume both parents are fit unless otherwise proven. If your former spouse is an unfit parent, you must prove it under certain criteria, including:
- Abandonment
- Neglect
- Desertion
- Cruelty
- Criminal conviction of insanity
- Physical abuse
- Depravity
- Extensive felony record
Your child’s safety is always paramount to the court. If you need to prove your former spouse is unfit, a family law lawyer can help you bring evidence to the court before submitting your parenting plan.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce?
What Is Legal Custody?
Answer the question here. Make sure you answer all frequently asked questions to clear some common doubts. People love when they find a solution without having to wait for your reply. This also shows that you have enough knowledge that you can share and help them out.
How Can I Contact Your Office?
Our Office is available for contact via email, phone, and in person communication. We always suggest a phone call to start any communication.
Do I Really Need an Attorney?
No, of course you can proceed in any legal matter as a self represented individual, that being said you can also preform surgery on your own. This decision should never be taken lightly, but the practice of law has many nuaiances and detailed proceedures, without being aware and understading how to effectivly nagivate the legal world puts you at a severe disadvantage.
How Is Child Custody Determined?
Answer the question here. Make sure you answer all frequently asked questions to clear some common doubts. People love when they find a solution without having to wait for your reply. This also shows that you have enough knowledge that you can share and help them out.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce?
What Is Legal Custody?
Answer the question here. Make sure you answer all frequently asked questions to clear some common doubts. People love when they find a solution without having to wait for your reply. This also shows that you have enough knowledge that you can share and help them out.
How Can I Contact Your Office?
Our Office is available for contact via email, phone, and in person communication. We always suggest a phone call to start any communication.
Do I Really Need an Attorney?
No, of course you can proceed in any legal matter as a self represented individual, that being said you can also preform surgery on your own. This decision should never be taken lightly, but the practice of law has many nuaiances and detailed proceedures, without being aware and understading how to effectivly nagivate the legal world puts you at a severe disadvantage.
How Is Child Custody Determined?
Answer the question here. Make sure you answer all frequently asked questions to clear some common doubts. People love when they find a solution without having to wait for your reply. This also shows that you have enough knowledge that you can share and help them out.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Divorce?
The answer to this question differs substantially, we have successfully completed divorces in three weeks, and we have all heard the stories of divorces that last 2+ years. Ultimately, this generally comes down to the parties. When the parties come to the table in agreement on all issues, including but not limited to children ( allocation of parenting time and responsibilities), and a breakdown of the distribution of marital assets and liabilities, the process is generally very quick. The more issues the parties argue and disagree on the longer it takes to resolve the issue or research the issue when one party is trying to hide assets. A typical divorce with minor issues generally takes between 8 to 15 months, again depending on the parties, the courts schedule and the number of issues the parties disagree on.
Qualified Legal Attorneys
.
Over 20 Years of Experience
.
Customer Feed Back.
John R.
Ronald was absolutely the right person to hire. Understood what I needed, was always able to answer any questions I had, and very easy to contact. Highly, highly recommended.