As with most areas in family law involving minors, such as child support and custody, the decisions made regarding parenting time (what the law used to call visitation) are to be made in accordance with the child’s best interests. In Illinois, it is reasonable for judges to rule that the child’s best interests involve continuing a relationship with both parents. The attorneys at Abramovitch Blalock McKinnon will help you find the best possible solution to your parenting time dispute.

Whether you and the other parent are in the process of a divorce or if you and the other parent never married, you will want to set a schedule of parenting time in order to secure your rights. Bringing your request to establish a parenting time schedule to the Judge is one of the first steps to securing the bond between yourself and your child. If you and the other parent have been able to reach an agreement, then formalizing that agreement in a written court order will secure your rights. If an immediate agreement has not been reached between the parents, the court will require the use of mediation to try and work out the specifics of the parenting time. If mediation is not successful, the Judge and attorneys will assess the next steps to prepare the case for trial. This may include appointing an attorney to represent the child, conducting studies of the homes, and procedures to gather evidence for the trial. At the trial, the Judge presiding the case chooses the times (and potentially the place) that the parenting time will take place. There are many opportunities between starting the case and a final trial for the parents to work together, and with their attorneys, to establish the parenting time for the child. Reaching an agreement between the parents allows the parents to maintain control of the family dynamic and schedule, but this process often requires our skilled and experienced attorneys to negotiate on your behalf. The attorneys at Abramovitch Blalock & McKinnon have the legal knowledge and real life wisdom and experience to help clients evaluate the circumstances and advocate for their client’s position.