Child Custody Attorneys Near Me

At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, our child custody attorneys near me are compassionate, experienced, and future-focused advocates for parents. With a comprehensive understanding of the child custody laws in Illinois, we are ready to help you find the best solution for your specific situation. To arrange a completely confidential initial consultation with a local child custody attorney, please do not hesitate to contact our team today. 

llinois No Longer Officially Uses the Term Custody: Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

While you will still frequently hear people use the term “child custody” in conversations, child custody is now referred to as the allocation of parental responsibilities. It was a linguistic change made to reflect our state’s goal of creating a more child-centered approach to family law. The allocation of parental responsibilities encompasses both decision-making authority and parenting time, which were previously known as legal custody and physical custody. In Illinois, some form of joint custody (shared parental responsibilities) is favored—but sole custody can be awarded. 

Understanding the Best Interests of the Child Standard in Illinois

Illinois is a “best interests of the child” state for custody cases. The best interests of the child standard is always the guiding principle used by courts in Illinois to determine the allocation of parental responsibilities in Illinois. The standard takes into account a number of factors, including: 

• The child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs;  
• The parenting ability of each party
• The relationship between the child and each parent; 
• The child’s wishes (if old enough to give input); 
• The mental and physical health of both parents; 
• The parents’ abilities to cooperate and communicate with each other; and
• Any history of domestic violence or abuse. 

We Put an Emphasis on Collaborative Solutions in Custody Cases

Custody cases are complicated. We know that most parents do not want to fight. We also know that Illinois law looks favorably on parents who try to work together with their co-parents to find an amicable solution. Our Illinois family law firm puts an emphasis on helping our clients find collaborative answers to child custody cases. For example, mediation is often a viable option for parents trying to work out a parenting plan as part of a custody dispute. At the same time, we are always ready to advocate hard to protect your parental rights. 

Call Our a Child Custody Attorney Near You for Immediate Help

At SAM LAW OFFICE LLC, our Illinois child custody lawyers help parents navigate some of the most challenging times in their life. We handle the full range of custody and visitation matters. Contact us now for a confidential, no-commitment review and assessment of your case. From our Rolling Meadows law office, our family law team serves communities throughout Northern Illinois.