Handling Disagreements About Parental Responsibilities

 Posted on December 16, 2024 in Child Custody in Illinois

There is no denying that divorce can be incredibly stressful for everyone involved. When it comes to making decisions about children, tensions can run high if parents have conflicting opinions about how decision-making authority should be allocated.

If you have reached a point of strong disagreement with your former spouse regarding parental responsibilities, you have a choice to make: would you rather settle the matter in court, or would you prefer trying to resolve the issue through mediation? 

Every divorce is different, and there is no easy band-aid fix for resolving issues of legal custody. A Joliet, IL family law attorney at Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C. can advise you of your best course of action, representing your child’s best interests through aggressive negotiation in and outside of court. Attorney Barbara Morton has over 20 years of experience handling complex family law matters on behalf of her clients, and she is prepared to take any case to trial.

Mediation for Resolving Disputes

The main benefit of mediation is that it allows co-parents to discuss their issues in a low-pressure environment. These discussions are overseen by a mediator, who will make sure the conversation remains productive and push for fair compromise when possible. For instance, if you and your co-parent cannot agree on the choice of schooling, a mediator may suggest that one parent should make decisions about education, while the other handles extracurricular activities.

Mediation may also be preferable for establishing a rapport with your co-parent. Presumably, you and your co-parent will have to remain in contact until your child becomes an independent adult, and mediation can lay the framework for how future disagreements should be settled. Our attorneys can help prepare you for mediation, making sure that you can effectively advocate for yourself before entering negotiations.

Litigation for Resolving Disputes

If mediation falls through, you may have no other choice but to take the argument to court. Litigation can be expensive and time-consuming, but it also gives you the chance to argue for your preferred solution in front of a judge. When making a final decision about parental responsibilities, the courts will weigh different factors in the child’s best interests, such as:

• The mental and physical wellness of the parents and child.

• Both parents’ level of involvement in the child’s life.

• The child’s stated wishes, if the child is old enough and mature enough for those to be considered.

• Any history of abuse against the child from the parents.

Litigation is not an easy process, but in especially difficult divorces, it may be your only route to promote your child’s long-term health and happiness. No matter the case, our attorneys are prepared to represent you in court, making sure your concerns as a parent are heard.

Meet With a Will County, IL Family Law Attorney

If you and your co-parent have reached an impasse in allocating parental responsibilities, a Plainfield, IL family law attorney can meet with you privately to discuss your options to resolve the pressing issues in your divorce. When you work with the Law Offices of Tedone and Morton, P.C., our attorneys will keep you informed of your rights at every juncture. To schedule a free consultation, call our offices at 815-666-1285 today.