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How Illinois Courts Decide Child Custody: Key Factors to Know

Posted by Melissa Rankine | Oct 25, 2024 | 0 Comments

When parents are separating or divorcing, one of the most important (and often stressful) decisions to be made is who will have custody of the children. Ultimately, it is always best for parents to work together to make their own decisions about Illinois custody laws provide a framework for determining the allocation of parental responsibilities. These responsibilities are broken into two groups: 1) Decision-making responsibilities (legal custody) and; 2) Parenting time (visitation). Understanding how Illinois courts make these decisions can help ease some of the uncertainty and prepare you for the process.

Let's walk through the key factors the courts consider when determining child custody in Illinois.

The Best Interests of the Child

The primary focus of any child custody decision in Illinois is the best interests of the child. This means that the court will weigh multiple statutory factors to determine what arrangement will provide the most stability, care, and support for the child. While it may seem straightforward, each family's situation is unique, and the court takes several specific elements into account before making a ruling.

Key Factors the Court Considers

Here are some of the most important factors that influence a court's decision in determining custody:

  1. Parental Cooperation: Illinois courts strongly favor a parenting arrangement where both parents can cooperate and communicate effectively. If one parent is more likely to encourage a positive relationship between the child and the other parent, this can be an important factor in deciding custody.

  2. Parent-Child Relationship: The court will evaluate the relationship each parent has with the child. This includes how involved each parent has been in the child's life up to this point—who has been the primary caregiver, who has been responsible for schooling, healthcare, and other important matters.

  3. The Child's Adjustment to Their Home, School, and Community: Stability is essential for a child's well-being. The court will look at how well the child is adjusted to their current living situation, school, and social environment. Major disruptions, like moving far from their school or friends, may not be in the child's best interest.

  4. Mental and Physical Health of All Parties: The mental and physical well-being of both the parents and the child are crucial factors. If either parent is struggling with serious health or mental health issues that could impact their ability to care for the child, the court may consider this in its decision.

  5. Parental Responsibilities and Prior Involvement: The court will also examine the responsibilities that each parent has taken on in the past. This includes day-to-day parenting, like feeding, bathing, attending doctor's appointments, helping with homework, and general caretaking. The more involved a parent has been in the child's life, the more likely the court is to favor that parent in custody decisions.

  6. Any History of Abuse or Domestic Violence: If there is any history of domestic violence, child abuse, or neglect, the court will take that into serious consideration. The safety of the child is a top priority, and courts will limit or restrict custody or visitation rights if a parent poses any danger to the child or the other parent.

Types of Custody in Illinois

It's also helpful to understand the types of custody arrangements available in Illinois, as the court will decide not just where the child lives, but also how major decisions are made.

  1. Physical Custody

    Parenting time usually refers to a parent's physical custody of a child, but it can also refer to a parent's visitation rights. Parenting time is an important aspect of custody decisions in Illinois because parents typically cherish having time to live with and interact with their children meaningfully. When deciding parenting time, the court will consider the child's best interests.

  2. Legal Custody (Parental Responsibilities)

    Legal custody, now referred to as parental responsibilities in Illinois, involves decision-making authority. This covers major life decisions related to the child's education, healthcare, extracurricular activities, and religion. The court can allocate legal custody to one or both parents.

  3. Joint Custody vs. Sole Custody

    Illinois courts generally favor joint custody arrangements, where both parents share legal custody and decision-making responsibilities. However, if the court believes it's in the best interest of the child for one parent to have sole legal custody (or sole decision-making), it may grant that instead. Sole custody is more common in cases where one parent is unfit or unable to meet the child's needs.

Navigating child custody decisions can be one of the most challenging aspects of a separation or divorce, but knowing the factors that courts prioritize can help you feel more prepared. Ultimately, Illinois courts want to create an arrangement that supports the child's best interests and allows them to maintain strong, healthy relationships with both parents whenever possible.

If you're facing a custody dispute or simply want guidance on how to approach the process, it's essential to have experienced legal support by your side. For legal assistance and guidance, contact us at Katherine Maloney & Associates at 815-577-9763.

About the Author

Melissa Rankine

Melissa Rankine joined Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC as an associate attorney in 2023. She comes to our office with 15 years previous experience as a paralegal. Ms. Rankine obtained her license in 2021, and is focused primarily on family law issues such as divorce, custody (now allocation of p...

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