Question By: Visitation is a critical aspect of a child's life after their parents' separation or divorce. It is essential for the child's emotional, social, and mental development. In Illinois, like other states, the court decides visitation rights and schedules for the non-custodial parent after considering the child's best interests.
The Child's Best Interests
Illinois courts prioritize the child's best interests when deciding visitation rights. The court considers various factors to determine what is in the child's best interests, such as:
• The child's age and gender
• The child's relationship with each parent and any siblings
• Each parent's mental and physical health
• Each parent's ability to provide for the child's needs, including their educational and medical needs
• The child's living arrangements
• The child's wishes, if the child is old enough to express them
Types of Visitation
The court may award several types of visitation depending on the circumstances of each case. Some of the most common types of visitation in Illinois include:
• Reasonable visitation: This is the most flexible type of visitation, where the non-custodial parent can visit the child at reasonable times and for reasonable durations.
• Scheduled visitation: The court sets a specific visitation schedule for the non-custodial parent, outlining when they can visit the child and for how long.
• Supervised visitation: If the court finds that the non-custodial parent poses a danger to the child's safety, they may order supervised visitation. This means that the parent can only visit the child when a third party is present to supervise the visit.
• Virtual visitation: This type of visitation allows the non-custodial parent to communicate with the child via video conferencing or other forms of digital communication.
Parenting Plans
In Illinois, the court requires both parents to submit a parenting plan outlining how they intend to co-parent and care for the child after the separation or divorce. The parenting plan must include details such as visitation schedules, holidays, and vacations. If the parents can't agree on a parenting plan, the court will intervene and decide what is best for the child.
The lawyers in Skokie can assist with your child custody and visitation issues. The lawyers handle divorce and child custody cases in Evanston, Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, Elk Grove Village, Glenview, Niles, Prospect Heights, Northbrook, Wheeling, Winnetka, Arlington Heights, Riverside, Rosemont, Glencoe, Morton Grove, Rolling Meadows, and Wilmette.
To learn more visit https://www.familylawadvocate.com/how-does-the-court-decide-visitation-in-illinois/
Answer By: