Child Custody

DuPage County Child Custody and Visitation Attorney

What is in the best interests of a child? When parents divorce, that question is of primary concern to the parents and to the judge. As a parent, what are your rights and obligations? How can you resolve child custody and visitation matters?

Contact the child custody law firm of Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. in DuPage County, Illinois, for a free initial consultation to discuss these sensitive questions.

Joint Custody

In Illinois, parents may share joint custody or they may elect one parent to have sole custody. The determination is based upon the parties’ preferences and the best interests of the children. Joint custody ensures that both parents are involved in the decision making process on issues concerning their children’s lives.

Public Act 094-1026 - Grandparents' Rights

Sole Custody

Sole custody gives one parent the authority to make decisions on behalf of the children in areas such as education, religion, medical treatment, and other major issues.

Residential Parenting

Generally, one parent is designated as the residential or custodial parent, while the other is granted parenting time or visitation. However, it is becoming more common for parties to share the residential parent designation. Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. advocate for the best interest of the child by listening to the concerns of the parents and developing a child custody and visitation agreement that is best for the family as a unit as opposed to always following the standard visitation schedule outlined in statute.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

By jointly developing a shared plan through the collaborative law or mediation process, parents are more likely to achieve a resolution that will last. Instead of leaving this important decision up to the court, alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) that avoid the costly and time-consuming courtroom battle allow parents to make their own decisions for the best interests of their children. Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. represent clients throughout this process, providing them with experience and insight into the multifaceted issues that exist in child custody disputes.

The court typically prefers to maintain the same parent who was the primary caretaker as the primary custodial parent. They also consider whether one of the parents moved out of the home.

The firm advocates for both mothers and fathers. Father’s have an equal right to parent their children as mothers. If your paternal rights are being denied, we can represent you in the enforcement of those rights.

Relocation / Moving

Before custodial parents can move out of state with a child, he or she must first obtain the court’s permission and/or the permission of the other parent and include that in the judgment.

For more information please visit our Child Custody Information Center.

Kathryn L. Harry & Associates, P.C. do their best to keep the children out of the process, making this as easy a transition as possible. Contact them today to discuss your child custody case in a free initial consultation.