Child Custody & Support Lawyer in Cook County, IL

Also Representing Clients in Will County & Lake County

One of the most important issues for couples ending their marriage is the wellbeing of their children. The matter of child custody can strike fear into your heart when contemplating the split of households. You may feel your parent-child relationship will suffer or be threatened. You may also be worried about how the entire subject of divorce will affect your child emotionally. These are understandable and legitimate concerns. Ensuring that your child(ren)’s future is addressed and handled in the most beneficial manner is vital.

At Bell Law Group, we are uniquely sensitive to the issues of child custody and support. As the child of divorced parents, our attorney knows first-hand how divorce can impact children who often have little understanding of what is happening. For a child most of all, divorce can be a very destabilizing experience which is why these issues must be managed according to their best interests. Our firm will bear this goal in mind while also seeking to protect your parental rights and objectives when resolving custody and support.

Get experienced legal assistance from our Cook County child custody and support attorney. Arrange for a confidential consultation online or by calling Bell Law Group at (708) 304-9080.

Child Custody in Illinois

Child custody and visitation in Illinois is referred to as parenting time and the allocation of parental responsibilities. 

• Parental responsibility:  Decision-making authority regarding major areas of the child’s life, such as education, religion, health care, and extracurricular activities. This right may held by both parents jointly or by only one parent solely.
• Parenting time: This involves where the child will reside. It also may be decided on a joint (shared) basis or one parent may have sole physical possession of the child. Where parenting time is shared or equally split, parents must create a  time-sharing plan that the court approves.  

Courts in Illinois base their decisions on the allocation of parenting time and responsibilities according to the best interests of the child. It is generally believed that children do best with continuing and frequent contact with both parents. Thus, courts favor joint parenting time. Only in cases where a child’s safety may be at risk do courts award sole physical custody, such as when a parent has a history of family violence or substance abuse.