It happens all of the time. One of the parties in a marriage wants to separate, but the other party will not agree to move out. Potential clients often ask if there is anything they can do, and it completely depends on the circumstances.
Scenario 1: When There is Domestic Violence First and foremost, if you are in a violent situation, you need to come up with a plan to leave the situation in a safe manner. Sometimes that means filing for an Order of Protection and staying out of the house until your spouse is served by the sheriff. Often times in an order of protection, the Court will enter an the Order ex-parte (without notice to the other party). This happens when reasonable notice to the other side would cause further risk of harm to the person seeking the order protecting them. You can be granted what is called “exclusive possession” of your residence; of your pets; your property can be listed in the order, as well as your children. Spouses can be ordered to stay away from children’s schools and daycare facilities and they can even be prohibited from accessing the children’s school and medical records. We often coordinate with our clients how to handle an order of protection from start to finish, down to planning where they will stay while waiting for their spouse to be served. We help them provide copies of the order to their children’s school and daycare centers and we do whatever we can to keep them safe. This is one of the more common ways someone could be excluded from a marital residence. However, it is reserved only for truly abusive situations and is not to be abused as a method to simply evict someone from the house. Scenario 2: When there is no “violence” or “abuse”, but mentally, they are causing you harm by being in the same house. In these scenarios, we can petition for what is called “exclusive possession” of the marital residence. This means that one person has a right to occupy the home during the pendency of the litigation, and the other person is excluded. This means the occupant can change the locks, put up security cameras without giving the other party access, change the alarm password or install an alarm system, etc. The non-occupying spouse cannot be in or at the home without a court order. This situation is reserved for scenarios where the parties absolutely cannot live in the same home, but generally, there isn’t any abuse or violence. It causes mental anguish and harm for the parties to be together in the same house, both to one or both of the parties as well as toothier children. It might be constant bickering. It might be that one party comes and goes at all hours of the night and you never know when they will come back. It could be that one person is making it very difficult for the other party to enjoy peace in their own home. It could also be a combination of any of the above factors. It is not as devastating as an order of protection, and the parties can generally still converse with each other in this situation, they just cannot live under the same roof. Scenario 3: When they are trying to live in the same house “for the kids” but it is a nightmare. In this situation, maybe the parents get along well enough but need a break from each other and cannot live together any longer. In these scenarios, we might do an agreed order to restrict access to certain parts of the home. For example, maybe spouse 1 is allowed to exclusively use the primary bedroom and bathroom, and maybe spouse 2 is confined to the basement for sleeping, but the common areas are for everyone. This way, the parties don’t share a room anymore. "Nesting" While the Divorce is Pending In some cases, the parties may agree to do what’s called “nesting” while their divorce is pending. In this scenario, one party may rent an apartment and the party who does not have parenting time with the minor children stays in the apartment. When their parenting time starts, the party ending their parenting time goes to the apartment and the other parent comes back into the house. The parties do this on a schedule based upon who has time with the kids, and the parent who has their time with the kids always exercises it in the house. The kids never go to the apartment. This is a great way to keep the children in their home and comfortable, while the parents never have to live together. This presumes, however, that the parties can act like adults and that they will not bicker or take issue with someone disrupting their stuff when they are out of the house, or out of the apartment, that they won’t fight about the cleanliness of the different living locations, that they won’t fight about bringing significant others to the apartment, etc. It takes parents who can truly co-parent for the benefit of their children to work out this arrangement. Rarely is it used long-term, but it is not completely unheard of. Typically it is used during the pendency of the case. Our Divorce Attorneys Can Help You The key to figuring out what is best for your family is going to involve planning and knowing your legal options. We often plan departures from a marital living situation for our clients and we are happy to provide guidance and insight! THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://bit.ly/3HrB6C9
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It is not uncommon for spouses to have a period of separation before ultimately deciding if they do want to move forward with the divorce process or not. If you are thinking about separating from your spouse, a separation period can offer the couple perspective on their marriage and help them clarify whether they can overcome their issues or if divorce is the right path forward for the family.
Whichever way the separation goes, there are some things that you should not do while separated or when separating from your spouse that apply in all situations. Here are just a few of many things to avoid: 1. Do not post on social media about the separation or the reasons behind it. Pretty much everyone, including your grandma, is on social media today. Whether it’s Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok, or some other platform, your family and friends are connected to you and pay attention to what you post. Airing out your problems on social media is never a positive way to deal with your feelings, and if divorce is the path you take, those past posts can possibly be used against you in your divorce case. If you need somewhere safe to vent or talk about your spouse and the separation, you should contact a therapist so these things can be discussed in a safe space rather than broadcasted online. 2. Don’t make financial commitments before a final agreement is reached. Try to maintain the financial status quo during the separation period. Don’t go out and rent a new apartment or buy a new house, purchase a new vehicle, or make any other large financial purchases or commitments. Doing so may overextend your finances at a time when you want to be saving and making important decisions regarding finances. Also, if during the separation period you and your spouse will still be staying in the marital residence, don’t offer to pay more than what you have already been paying for monthly expenses such as the mortgage, utilities, groceries, and the like. Doing this may set a standard later that the Court will require you to maintain even if it was only meant to be temporary during the separation. 3. Don’t involve the children. Involving your children is a big mistake that could come back and bite you if you and your spouse do proceed with getting a divorce. Ideally, if possible, try to keep things status quo with the children. By keeping everything as normal as possible for the children, you will be keeping them safe from any emotional or mental trauma. Don’t talk about the separation with the children and definitely don’t talk about your spouse in front of them. If a judge finds out that one parent is involving the children in the details of the divorce case or using them in some way to get back at the other parent, that puts you in danger of losing parenting time with your kids or even losing custody. You should always put the children first and do what is in their best interest. 4. Don’t rush into a new relationship when separating from your spouse. Going through a separation period or eventually a divorce is emotionally and psychologically draining. Your time and energy should be focused on your children and taking care of your well-being. You need to give yourself some time to adjust to the separation and to heal from your marriage. Juggling a new relationship with the demands and requirements of your divorce case, as well as trying to focus on yourself and the needs of your children, can throw everything off. Focus on the present and what is best for you and your family in the immediate future. Once you do that, you will hopefully be able to see a finish line and be more open to a new relationship. 5. Don’t sign anything or rush into an agreement until you talk to a family law attorney. If you and your spouse are able to work out an agreement regarding both the parenting and financial issues related to the divorce, that is definitely a huge step in the right direction. However, although you and you spouse might be tempted to just sign the agreement once it is typed up and have it entered by the Court, you should get it reviewed by an experienced family law attorney at the very least. Having the agreement reviewed by an experienced divorce attorney does not mean you will necessarily need to change any of the terms of the agreement, but ensures that the agreement is fair, reasonable and not too one-sided. If there are some serious problems with the agreement, the attorney will be sure to let you know so those can be further negotiated and changed to ensure you won’t regret this agreement just days after signing. THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://bit.ly/35o2WSh When a new tax season is upon us, we are often asked by our clients what tax considerations come up in divorce. If you have recently divorced or are considering divorce, here are 10 tax issues that arise in divorce:
1. Child Support Child support payments are not tax-deductible by the parent paying child support and are not included in the income of the parent receiving child support. 2. Alimony For divorce settlement agreements entered after December 31, 2018, alimony payments (spousal maintenance) are not tax-deductible for the spouse paying alimony and are not taxable to the spouse receiving alimony. 3. Taxes on Divorce Settlement As a general rule, property acquired during the divorce is a non-taxable event for federal income and gift taxes. 4. Tax Filing Status You look at your marital status on December 31st of the tax year to determine your filing status. If your divorce is not final, you can file a joint return or file separately, but the designation will be “married filing separately” not “single”. 5. Head of Household You can file as "Head of Household" if you are not married or are legally separated by December 31st of the tax year, or if you have not lived with your spouse for the last six months – and have paid for more than one-half of the costs to maintain the household and you dependent children who have lived with you more than half of the year. 6. Retirement Assets To transfer a portion of a qualified retirement plan in a divorce settlement, you have to have a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) issued by the Court. If the QRDO is done properly this should not cause any tax consequences. 7. Retirement Assets Tax Different types of retirement assets have different tax consequences which you must understand when negotiating settlement and division of assets. Retirement assets that seem to be comparable as apples to apples are actually comparing apples to oranges which could cause a different financial picture than you anticipated. A traditional IRA is taxable when it is distributed meaning that if you receive a traditional IRA in your divorce settlement you will be paying taxes on the money when it is paid to you. Roth IRAs are funded "after tax" so there is no tax due on the money when it is distrusted to the recipient. 8. Name Change If you change your name after your divorce, you must notify the Social Security Administration and file the proper forms and obtain a new social security card. Your name on your tax return must match the records of the Social Security Administration. 9. Capital Gains Taxes When you sell your principal residence, you and your spouse can each exclude the first $250,000 of gain from your taxable income. A principal residence is defined by the IRS as a "home you've lived in for at least two of the last five years." The capital gain is the selling price of your home minus the selling expenses and the amount you paid for or put into it. If you sell your house together you are entitled to the total $500,000 exclusion. If you buy out your spouse’s share in the divorce, your spouse does not have to worry about capital gains, but you will when you sell it – you will only get your share which is a $250,000 exclusion. If you have a home selling for $800,000 and you have owned it for 30 years with a basis of $200,000 the gain would be $600,000. If you sold the house together you would have to pay taxes on the $100,000 gain. If you bought out your spouse’s share and then sold it, you would have to pay taxes on a $350,000 gain. 10. Protection from Joint Returns Previously Filed If you have filed joint tax returns with your spouse during your marriage, it is important to have your spouse acknowledge that they will transmit to you upon receipt copies of all notices, writings, and other communications from the Internal Revenue Service or State Revenue Service pertaining to any joint return filed so that you are aware if a problem arises. A recent or impending divorce will not relieve you of responsibility for obtaining this important information. THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://illinoislawforyou.com/divorce/lookout-10-tax-considerations-in-divorce/ In an Illinois divorce, the length of a marriage often has a major impact on how the parties’ financial issues are decided. In general, this is because a long marriage means that the parties’ lives have been intertwined for a longer period, during which they’ve likely accrued more assets, and possibly debts, than a marriage that only lasted a few years (or less). It’s also more likely that during a long marriage the parties have an established financial agreement within their marriage as to how they have supported each other, which is a critical component when deciding how assets and debts should be divided up. Judges will also look at the parties’ ages, their educations, each party’s earning potential, and their work histories throughout the marriage when determining whether to award property as well as how to divide their property.
"Status Quo" On Financial Matters When a couple first separates, the judge will first look at the “status quo” of the marriage to determine how the parties handled their finances prior to when the marriage started to break down. Once the divorce proceedings have begun, the judge will order that the status quo should continue to avoid issues where one spouse withdraws their financial support of marital expenses that are typically shared, like a mortgage, utilities, and the like. Based on the couples’ respective incomes, work histories, educations, non-marital assets, and the length of the marriage, a family court judge will make determinations about how to divide up the parties’ assets, namely through an award of spousal maintenance (or not) and the percentage of the marital property allocated to each party. In addition to financial contributions, the judge will also look at whether one party was providing significant financial support to the other party, most often in cases where one parent stays at home with the children or otherwise has not worked full-time during the marriage in order to support the family. The ultimate goal in awarding maintenance, or not, and dividing the parties’ marital property is to facilitate for both parties to continue to live a life like the one they enjoyed during the marriage, as well as prevent either party from financial hardship. Spousal Maintenance Maintenance is awarded to a spouse at the judge’s discretion based on a range of factors detailed in 750 ILCS 5/504. Anyone who has been married for a year or longer could be entitled to maintenance, but the length of the marriage determines the length of the maintenance award. So, marriages that last only a couple of months, or a year or two, are unlikely to result in a maintenance award unless there is an enormous disparity in the parties’ incomes. However, parties who have been married five, ten, or more years are more likely to see a maintenance award as part of their divorce settlement. Based on your current and potential future finances, the length of the marriage, and a host of other factors like age, education, and professional experience, the judge will determine:
The judge will focus primarily on the parties’ incomes, namely who earned more during the marriage and what the income-earning potential is for both parties in the future based on their respective educations and professional experience. The greater the disparity between the parties’ work histories and educations, the more likely it is that a judge will award maintenance to the lower-earning party. For some, maintenance is awarded for a period of years with the specific intention of helping that person gain the education necessary to get a job that will allow them to become financially independent. That is often the case for younger couples where one person has not pursued an education, or a career, in order to allow the other spouse to get their degree, or by dedicating their time to raising the parties’ children. In those situations, the judge is more likely to award maintenance for a period sufficient to allow that person to go back to school to complete a degree, gain additional professional experience, or something similar that will allow them to become financially independent. However, the longer the marriage, and the older the parties, the less likely it will be that the lower-earning spouse will ever be able to "catch up" to their spouse and become financially independent. In these situations, it makes a maintenance award that much more critical to the lower-earning spouse. If the agreement during a long-term marriage was that only one party would work, the other spouse has an obligation to continue to provide the same level of financial support after the separation. Impact of the Lifestyle Enjoyed During Marriage Under the law, both parties have the right to live in a manner like the lifestyle enjoyed by the couple during the marriage. So, the spouse who earned less, or perhaps did not work so that they could be a stay-at-home parent, does not have to forgo the lifestyle that they were accustomed to during the marriage. This is meant to protect the lower-earning spouse from becoming destitute because of the divorce. So, even if you consider you and your spouse to have broken up, that does not mean that you no longer have a financial obligation to them. Your financial obligation to your spouse will not end until you have finalized your divorce and, if maintenance is awarded, that obligation will likely last beyond your marriage, as well. Length of Maintenance Award Regarding the length of time for the maintenance award, the longer the marriage, the longer the maintenance obligation. Section 5/504 of the law specifically sets out a mathematical formula used to calculate how long a person is entitled to maintenance that is a fraction of the length of the marriage. The longer the marriage, the larger the fraction. Once a couple has reached twenty years of marriage, or more, the maintenance will either last the length of the marriage or for an “indefinite” period to be determined by the judge. However, even long-term maintenance awards can be shortened, or reduced, based on changes in the parties’ incomes so long as the maintenance award is reviewable. An involuntary decrease in income, or retirement, could provide sufficient grounds for terminating a maintenance award. Likewise, the remarriage of the receiving party, or their cohabitation with another individual, would also provide grounds for terminating a spousal maintenance obligation prior to its expiration under the statute. Marital PropertyThe length of the marriage has a less direct impact on the division of the parties’ property and debts during a divorce. Individuals are not awarded a specific percentage or portion of the marital property based on the length of the marriage. However, the length of the marriage is likely most important in determining what is marital property versus non-marital property and looking at each parties’ contributions to that property. The longer two people have been married, the more likely it is that the property they own is marital property. Marital property is subject to division, even if one party is the only person making any financial contribution to the property. What Is Considered Marital Property? When looking at what constitutes marital property, the most important factor is when the property was purchased. Any property, which can include homes but also includes cars, furniture, retirement accounts, and the like, that was acquired during the marriage is marital property—unless it was created with specifically non-marital funds like an inheritance. So, the longer a couple is together, the more likely it is that the property they own at the time of the divorce was acquired during the marriage. It’s also more likely the items purchased during the marriage were purchased with marital funds, which also makes that property divisible. It is critical to understand that even if only one part was financially contributing to the property, i.e. making the mortgage payments, that does not mean the property isn’t marital. Contributions are not solely financial in the eyes of the court—a spouse’s efforts in terms of caring for the children and general upkeep of the home also constitute contributions that will be financially rewarded when the parties’ property is divided as part of the divorce. Regarding property like retirement accounts, bank accounts, and other financial investments, it is also critical to understand that the funds contributed into those accounts during the marriage are considered marital money, even if they went straight from your paycheck to your 401(k). That includes employer contributions and gains on the account value, as well. So, those accounts are also subject to division, usually equally, in recognition of the fact that those funds were intended to support both parties during their old age. No Matter The Length of Marriage, Get Advice from an Experienced Family Law Attorney Perhaps the most important takeaway is understanding that once you are married, the property earned and acquired by you and your spouse during your marriage is shared. Whether that is for one year or thirty years, a duty to support each other financially is created during your marriage that only becomes deeper and more complicated as the marriage continues. No matter the length of your marriage, it is important to have an experienced family law attorney to help you navigate and understand your obligations, and entitlements, under the law in order to best protect your assets as you move forward from your marriage, and into the next stage of your life. THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://illinoislawforyou.com/divorce/how-does-length-of-marriage-impact-an-illinois-divorce/ When you are first facing a divorce, whether you are the one wanting a divorce or not, the fear of the unknown can seem daunting to many. Common fears that come to mind:
Fears about divorce and speaking with a divorce attorney causes a lot of anxiety and people deal with that in different ways. Some get defensive, some turn to alcohol or drugs, and others "put their head in the sand" or suffer from denial. Divorce brings anger, confusion, sadness, and most of all fear. The more information you have, however, the less anxiety you should have. It is for that reason, that you need to talk to someone to educate you on the process. It's not unusual for people to be anxious or fearful to make the first step by contacting a divorce attorney. Suddenly it feels real. Many clients believe that by calling a divorce attorney, they have taken a step that compels them forward to a divorce. It does not have to be that way. On some occasions, you just need information, and you should not be getting that information from your sister, your friend, or your neighbor who just went through their divorce. The first contact with a divorce attorney might instill fear or anxiety, but once you finally make the call, you will be glad you did. 3 Tips to Follow When It’s Time to Consult With a Divorce Attorney 1. Choose a Divorce Attorney Who Only Handles Divorces and Pick and Be Sure the Attorney is Experienced. Lawyers are not trained in law school to deal with the emotions divorce cases bring us, so much of that training comes from the experience the attorney has dealing with thousands of divorce cases. For that reason, you should choose an attorney who not only concentrates in divorce or domestic relations law but has also been practicing for a long time. As divorce attorneys become seasoned, we learn how to spot certain anxieties and potential problems that you may not even know about yet. In over 20 years as a divorce attorney, I think the biggest fear people face is the unknown. No one knows how their divorce case is going to end which naturally leads to anxiety. 2. Be Prepared When You Meet with the Your Attorney Lawyers will need documents from you, so try and gather as many as possible when you meet with your attorney. Find your credit card bills, your mortgage bill, and any other document in your possession. Try and obtain bank account statements, pension statements, and other retirement and investment accounts. If your spouse is in charge of paying the bills, it is likely harder for you to find this type of documentation, but once your attorney can review your financial picture, you will obtain more information about what your potential settlement will be. Being armed with information and learning about the process of your divorce and the likely outcome can still be painful, but at least with some information, you should feel better about the process. 3. Work with Your Attorney to Prepare Your Divorce Strategy After gathering your financial and marriage-related documents, you and your lawyer can plan your strategy to get the divorce over with, but also to ensure you get your fair share. You may elect to mediate your case at this point or litigate it. Do you want a strong presence who will fight for you, or are you looking for someone who will be reasonable and attempt settlement over litigation? The answer to those questions unfortunately can depend on the way the divorce is presented to you initially. If you are meeting with a divorce lawyer because you were served with an order of protection and you have been removed from your house, the strategy you implement may be to fight back. Your case has already started in a highly litigated mode and taking a less aggressive stance will be unlikely. Your lawyer will need to know how aggressive your case should be presented. Most lawyers can wear many hats and are trained in trial strategy as well as negotiation. Every case will be different but you will need to figure out how your case will be presented. THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://illinoislawforyou.com/divorce/fears-about-speaking-with-a-divorce-lawyer/ The attitudes of Illinois family law judges about how children should be raised, and their time divided between parents, have changed significantly over the last fifty years or so. Judges used to believe, and rule--almost universally--that children needed to spend the majority of their time with the mother, and that the mother was inherently more nurturing, involved and dedicated to their children than fathers. This was one area of law where fathers were at a distinct disadvantage in family court, especially if the parents were not married.
Further, some judges believed that unmarried fathers were incapable of raising their own children. In 1972, this issue was raised in Stanley v. Illinois, a landmark parenting case that began here in Illinois wherein an unmarried father had to fight to be able to raise his own children after their mother passed away. Sadly, even though Mr. Stanley had always been an active parent for his children, the lower courts had denied him the ability to raise his own children because he was an unmarried man. The courts were biased both in their opinion that a father could appropriately raise his children without a mother, and that unmarried fathers should be entitled to the same rights as married fathers. The Supreme Court’s decision not only awarded Mr. Stanley custody of his children but recognized that fathers have not only had the ability but the constitutional right to parent their own children regardless of their marital status. This landmark case opened many doors for fathers who had been routinely pushed out of their children’s lives, both by former partners and the judicial system. The result was a sea change in how the rights and responsibilities of fathers are adjudicated here in Illinois, and across the nation. Top 4 Questions About the Rights of Fathers in Child Custody Cases At our Chicago family law firm our attorneys advocate for fathers every day. Here are four of the most common questions we are asked by fathers seeking to maximize their parental responsibilities and parenting time with their children. 1. What Are My Rights as a Father? Today, the idea that a court would deny an unmarried father the right to raise his own children seems completely backwards, which speaks to just how much family law has evolved. Now that courts recognize that fathers have the same constitutional rights as mothers, both in terms of their right to spend time with and make decisions about the children. On its face, the laws in Illinois favor fathers having equal parenting time and joint decision-making. As a father, you can petition for equal time and decision-making authority and be confident that the judge’s ultimate decision will not rest on the fact that you are a man, or whether you and the other parent were married. Equal parenting time and decision-making authority reflect the law’s evolution away from the concept that children need their mothers or women to serve as primary caregivers. Further, the law has moved away significantly from the assumption that women should have more time with the children, and more say as to how the children are raised, based solely on gender and gender stereotypes. Instead, the Illinois law now recognizes the idea that both parents are equally capable of raising happy, healthy children, regardless of gender or marital status. This is good news for fathers that want to be actively involved in their children's lives. 2. How Often Should a Father See a Child? Ideally, most judges want both parents to see the child on either a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Judges prefer consistent schedules where the child sees both parents frequently. To the extent possible, the courts want children to be able to have meaningful time with a father wanting to have a regular and consistent presence in their child’s life. Though it is possible for parenting to exercise equal parenting time, and many do, not all parents are equally involved in the care of their children. The parenting time schedule is often created using both the history of the parents’ involvement and their desired schedule for time with their children. If a parent wants equal, or significant, parenting time with a child, the judge is going to first look at how involved that parent was in the past. If there is a lot of evidence of the father being involved, that will support giving the father greater parenting time. Alternately, if there is documentation of the father trying to be more involved, and those efforts being denied by the mother, that can also provide the foundation for greater parenting time for the father. In short, the judge is going to look primarily at the effort that the father has made in the past to spend time with the child when looking at setting a parenting schedule. If a father is looking to increase his parenting time, the most important thing he can do is spend all the time he can with the child and request that his parenting time be increased. If the father doesn’t exercise all of the parenting time he already has with his child, the judge is not going to expand that time further. 3. Can a Mother Stop a Father from Seeing a Child? Both parents have equal rights to spend time with their children under the law. However, without judicial intervention, it is certainly possible for the mother to refuse the father’s request to spend time with the child with little recourse for the father. Sadly, it is not uncommon for the parent that the child resides with, the residential parent, to refuse to allow the other parent time with the children. Residential parents often base access to the child on their own schedules/convenience or sometimes use it (inappropriately) as leverage for money. Without the court’s intervention, there is really nothing to stop the residential parent from making decisions unilaterally. Once the court is involved, however, the judge will ensure that the father receives parenting time unless the other parent expresses significant, verified concerns about the child’s safety or well-being with the father. In those instances, the parenting time could be supervised by a family member or professional supervisor or other restrictions. Generally, even in those circumstances, the court will find a way to ensure that both parents have regular time with the child with the goal of increasing the father’s time with the child and reduce the restrictions, over time. 4. Can a Father Win Custody of a Child in Chicago? Any Chicago father who wants parenting time with their child is going to receive it under the current laws in Illinois unless the father presents a serious and ongoing safety risk to the child. Having the court involved means that neither parent will have the ability to exclude the other parent from the child’s life, as the judge will seek to facilitate a meaningful relationship between the child and both parents. When deciding a parenting time schedule, the judge will be looking at the fitness of both parents, the history of each parent’s involvement in child, whether one parent has been alienated from the child, and whether the parents have been able to co-parent during the child’s life. In evaluating those issues, it is certainly possible that a father would be chosen as the parent with majority parenting time with the child. However, it’s critical to understand that even if the judge does find that the mother should retain majority parenting time, she will no longer have unilateral decision-making over when, how, and whether the father is able to be involved in the child’s life. THIS ARTICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AT: https://illinoislawforyou.com/fathers-rights/what-rights-do-fathers-have-in-chicago-child-custody-cases/ |
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