Illinois Visitation & Parenting Time

Parenting time can be determined by the parents or by the courts. The court typically encourages the parents to create a schedule that best fits their needs as well as their child’s. However, if the parents cannot agree on how to split parenting time, the court will intervene. The court views this determination through the lens of what is in the best interests of the child, which includes the weighing of the following factors:

• How much time each parent wants to spend with the child
• The child’s wishes
• How much time each parent has spent with the child in the past two years
• Whether the parents had previously agreed on a parenting schedule
• The child’s relationship with each parent and members of their households
• The child’s ability to adjust to their home, community, and school
• The physical and mental health of each parent and the child
• The needs of the child
• Whether each parent is willing to put the child’s needs first
• The distance between each parent’s home and daily schedules
• The parents’ ability to work together
• Each parent’s willingness to foster a meaningful relationship with the child
• Any threat of violence, domestic violence, or sex offender status of a parent
• Any other factor that the court decides is relevant, including issues of substance abuse or mental health issues

In addition to determining parenting time, Will County also recognizes the visitation rights of grandparents and third parties in certain situations. If you are not the parent of a child and are seeking visitation rights, it is important that you speak with an experienced Joliet family law attorney about your situation right away. Visitation for non-parents can be complex, which is why you should only trust an experienced advocate with your case.