The Illinois State Bar Assoc. (ISBA) doesn’t support more time with Divorcing Parents children and less dollars for them and the judges and state actors.

Parents could get help in custody cases

Alex Davis

4

03/19/2014 03:57 PM

03/19/2014 05:24 PM

ILLINOIS — When a couple gets divorced, the dispute over who gets the kids and when, can get ugly. But, there’s a plan in the works to make it easier on kids.Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agree it’s important for children to have both parents active in their lives. That’s what the bill calls for. It would create new parameters for the courts to make parenting more balanced; giving equal time to each parent, or no less than 35% of the time for one parent each week.

Advocates say sometimes mothers and fathers accuse one another of things which aren’t true, just to gain the upper-hand. But, this change, they claim, would level the playing field.

Currently, the court determines what’s in the best interest of the child and who gets full custody, or if joint custody is best. That would continue under this law if a judge finds a parent unsuitable.

Under the bill, if parents can agree to a parenting plan, the courts may not need to step in.

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