Lake Forest Parenting Time Attorneys

Parenting time is one of the important parental responsibilities that is allocated in a Lake Forest child custody case. Any parents anticipating a child custody case should know that parental responsibilities include significant decision-making responsibilities and parenting time, both of which are allocated based on what is in the child’s best interests. If you have questions or concerns, you should get in touch with our experienced Lake Forest parenting time attorneys as soon as possible to discuss the details of your child custody case.

Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time in Lake Forest

In a child custody case in Lake Forest, the court will not award child custody as sole or joint custody, and it will not award legal or physical custody. Instead, under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), the court will allocate parental responsibilities. Those parental responsibilities include both significant decision-making responsibilities (formerly known as legal custody) and parenting time (formerly described as physical custody and visitation). In general, parenting time requires a parent to provide caretaking functions for the child and to make non-significant decisions for the child that arise on a day-to-day basis. 

What are caretaking functions? The IMDMA identifies the following as examples of caretaking functions that a parent must perform during parenting time:

• Satisfying the child’s nutritional needs;
• Managing the child’s bedtime routine;
• Providing care for the child when the child is injured or ill;
• Attending to the child’s hygiene needs;
• Transporting the child to extracurricular activities;
• Protecting the child from injuries and unsafe activities;
• Assisting and directing the developmental needs of the child;
• Disciplining the child when appropriate;
• Ensuring that the child goes to school;
• Supervising the child during homework time;
• Taking the child to doctor’s appointments;
• Providing guidance for the child; and
• Hiring a sitter when the parent cannot provide temporary care for the child.

These are just some of the caretaking functions identified within the IMDMA. There are several others listed, and there are more caretaking functions that may not be included that are forms of regular care provided by a parent.

Factors for Allocating Parenting Time in Lake Forest

Parenting time can be allocated by the parents through an agreed-upon parenting time or by the court through an allocation judgment. Regardless of whether the parents reach an agreement and allocate parenting time or the court allocates parenting time, the allocation of parenting time must be in the best interests of the child.

Contact a Lake Forest Parenting Time Attorney

Do you need assistance developing a parenting plan in which you and your ex allocate parental responsibilities? Or do you need help in a contested child custody case or a high-conflict case in which the court will allocate parenting time? An experienced Lake Forest parenting time attorney at our firm is here to help you. Do not hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more about how we can assist you with your parenting time case. Contact Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group today for additional information.