Visitation Attorneys Orland Park

If you have concerns about visitation with your children, resolving the matter as swiftly and advantageously as possible is naturally your goal. When your parental rights and your children are involved, the matter is urgent. Consulting with an experienced visitation attorney in Orland Park should be the first step you take on the path forward. 

Child Custody in Illinois

In Illinois, child custody is addressed in terms of both parental responsibilities and parenting time, which includes visitation. When one parent is awarded primary custody, the other receives a visitation schedule that addresses his or her parenting time. 

Visitation Orders

When Illinois courts make determinations about a parent’s visitation rights, it is always based on the best interests of the children involved. Further, because prevailing wisdom on the topic finds that continuing to have a relationship with both children is almost universally beneficial to both the parent and the children involved – barring extreme circumstances – Illinois courts often grant considerable visitation to the noncustodial parent. They also employ a minimum visitation schedule that includes the basic routine of visitation every other weekend and one evening a week. 

Factors Taken into Consideration by the Court

Those factors that the court takes into consideration when making determinations about visitation include:

• Each child’s unique needs
• Each parent’s ability and intent to prioritize each child’s needs
• Each child’s preference (to the extent that the child is mature enough to contribute meaningfully)
• Each parent’s preference
• The amount of time each parent participated in each child’s caregiving in the two years prior
• Each parent and each child’s mental and physical health
• Each child’s level of adjustment to his or her current home, school, and community
• The depth of each child’s relationship with important people in his or her life, including both parents, siblings, and other members of his or her family
• The time and expense required to travel from one parent’s home to the other’s
• Whether any restrictions on parenting time are necessary
• Whether there is any history of physical violence, abuse, or negligence in the home
• Any additional factors that the court considers relevant

Establishing Visitation as an Unwed Father

If you are a father who is not married to the mother of your child, you cannot seek custody or visitation through the courts until your paternity is established. Once you are identified as the father of your child, the state views you as having equal rights under the law, and you can pursue a visitation schedule (or joint custody). Your parental rights are too important to leave to chance, which makes working closely with a dedicated visitation attorney in you and your child’s best interest. 

It’s Time to Consult with an Experienced Visitation Attorney in Orland Park

Your visitation concerns are critical to your ability to continue fostering a loving relationship with your children, and the compassionate visitation attorneys at SLG Family Law in Orland Park are well-positioned to help. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.