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Ask A Divorce Lawyer: Get Answers To Questions About Divorce Or Significant Decision-Making Responsibilities – Formerly Known As Child Custody

We work hard to help clients navigate the divorce process with confidence. Divorce is difficult, but as your divorce lawyers, we will take as much of the burden from your shoulders as possible. If you have children, their interests should be your priority.

Whether working toward a settlement or preparing for trial, we strive to obtain the best possible results for our clients. We are responsive and attentive to client needs every step of the way. Protecting your children, finances and assets is the job for experienced and devoted Libertyville-area divorce attorneys.

We have been practicing Illinois family law for a combined 35-plus years. Our practice is concentrated on resolving family law issues in Lake County and surrounding areas with efficiency and effectiveness.

Contact us online today at 847-908-3955 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Can I File For An Uncontested Divorce?

If you and your spouse can reach an agreement on every issue, your case can be resolved without the cost and emotional strain of contested hearings or a trial.

However, when people try to file for divorce and resolve their marital separation issues on their own and problems arise down the road, they often realize that their agreements are lacking. They realize that they would have been better able to protect their interests and their children’s interests if they had worked with a divorce attorney to put together the agreement.

Still, working with an divorce lawyer does not inevitably lead to high conflict and exorbitant legal fees. I can work to resolve matters outside of the court process so that in the best scenario you only have to make a single court appearance to present your agreement. You will have to consider things you may not have thought of before such as:

  • How will you afford to support two individual households rather than one?
  • How will your business be affected?
  • What does Illinois law say about property division?
  • How will your retirement accounts be affected?
  • Who gets the kids on which nights of the week?
  • What if you or your spouse wants to move away?
  • Who will have the significant decision-making responsibilities for the children?

While Illinois no longer provides for joint or sole custody, you still must consider which parent should be allocated significant decision-making responsibilities in connection with the children.

What Was The Difference Between Joint Custody And Sole Custody, And Has This Changed?

Joint legal custody involved both parents making major parenting decisions together, and sole legal custody was the opposite of joint legal custody: One parent made all the major parenting decisions.

But yes, this has changed.

Now, parents are awarded significant decision-making responsibilities. The main responsibilities relate to educational issues, medical decisions, religious upbringing and extracurricular activities. Also, no longer does one parent have custody and the other parent have visitation. Now, both parents have parenting time, even if one has much more parenting time than the other.

While taking away the old labels hopefully takes away the stigma of not having “custody” or merely having “visitation,” like with the old law, the interests of the child remain paramount, and it is important to have an experienced attorney advocating on your behalf for the best interests of your children.

Your Divorce Lawyer Is Just A Phone Call Away

We have decades of experience in the courtroom and work every day to resolve family matters successfully with a wide range of client concerns. Contact us online today at or call Douglas Law, A Professional Corporation, at 847-908-3955 to schedule a free initial consultation.