Akin to the term “legal custody,” parenting responsibilities refer to both parenting time and significant decision-making responsibilities regarding a child.[1] As a Rockford parenting responsibilities lawyer, I help clients in seeking their objectives in these matters.
In Illinois, the following are the primary types of parenting responsibility arrangements:
Joint Custody. The Illinois Divorce Act does not define “joint custody” other than to state that it is based upon a Joint Parenting Agreement (“JPA”). However, contrary to popular belief, joint custody does not mean that a child will spend half of the time with each parent, or that each party will have equal decision-making authority. Instead, joint custody refers to what a JPA defines it to mean.
Sole Parenting Responsibilities (also referred to as sole custody). Sole parenting responsibility means that one parent is given the sole authority to make all critical decisions regarding a child’s upbringing. The sole custodian will also be the physical custodian, with the other parent being granted parenting time based upon a visitation schedule.
Shared Parenting Responsibilities (also referred to as shared custody). Shared parenting responsibility is a form of joint custody where children essentially spend almost equal amounts of time with each parent, each parent lives in the same school district, and child support may not be required.
[1] 750 ILCS 5/600.