Visitation Lawyers Orland Park

Visitation is an important concern for any parents who live separately. Maximizing your time with your children is a common and worthy goal, and an experienced visitation lawyer in Orland Park can help you do just that. 

Parenting Time in Illinois

Illinois courts address custody and visitation as parenting time, and the basic options include the following:

• One parent takes on the role of the primary custodial parent (with whom the children spend the majority of their overnights), while the other parent has a visitation schedule. 
• The parents divide their overnights with their shared children more equally.

If you and your children’s other parent are unable to reach a mutually acceptable decision regarding how you will split your parenting time, the court will make the determination on your behalf. In these instances, the court always bases its decisions on the best interests of the children involved, and this begins with the presumption that they are best served when they are able to spend a considerable amount of time with both parents (in order to continue fostering close bonds). 

The Children’s Best Interest

The best interest factors that courts consider when handing down orders related to visitation can include all the following:

• Both parents’ preferences regarding visitation
• Each child’s reasonable preference (when deemed relevant by the court)
• Any special needs that any of the children have
• Each parent’s level of participation in raising the children thus far.
• Each parent’s willingness and ability to make each child’s needs a priority
• How well each child has adjusted to his or her current home, school, and community
• The physical and mental health of all parties, including both parents and each child
• Each parent’s willingness and ability to facilitate the other parent’s relationship with the children and to foster open communication regarding co-parenting 
• The distance the parents live from one another and the time and expense required to travel back and forth.
• Any parenting time restrictions that apply to the situation at hand
• Any concerns regarding child abuse, child negligence, or domestic violence
• Each parent’s relationship with each child and each child’s relationship with other important people in his or her life (including siblings, grandparents, and beyond)

Ultimately, the court has considerable discretion in the matter of visitation schedules and can take whatever factors it deems meaningful into consideration. 

Protect Your Parental Rights by Consulting with an Experienced Visitation Lawyer in Orland Park Today

When the time you are able to spend with your children is at stake, you’re well advised to have professional legal counsel on your side. The trusted visitation lawyers at SLG Family Law in Orland Park understand your concerns and are committed to skillfully advocating for your parental rights – in pursuit of a visitation ruling that supports you and your children’s best interests. We’re on your side and here to help, so please don’t wait to contact us for more information today.