Homer Glen Child Custody Lawyer

One of the most difficult things a parent ever has to go through is the legal process of child custody. With the potential to be a contentious and emotional experience, it can be challenging to focus on legal details while standing up for your parental rights. This is where a Homer Glen child custody lawyer can help. Going to court for child custody can be overwhelming. Our firm can help you every step of the way, with the following:

• Preparation of documents
• Filing and serving of the custody petition
• Attending preliminary court dates
• Reaching an agreement or going to trial
• Figuring out options if you disagree with an order

Although it may seem daunting, you are not alone. With single-parent households making up 307,888, or 6.2%, of Illinois families, our firm has extensive experience helping couples through child custody.

At Vahey Law & Mediation, LLC, we understand how important your child’s safety and your relationship with them are. That is why we look at every case with attention to detail and a focus on doing what is in the best interest of your child and your family. With over 12 years of experience in family law, top-rated attorney Sarah M. Vahey is prepared to take your case.

Child custody is the legal process of determining who makes important decisions for a child and who gets physical custody (and how often). When you live in Homer Glen, Illinois, you file child custody cases in the Will County Circuit Court in Joliet, which handles family law matters. 

Generally, this includes filing and serving a custody petition, attending court dates, and going to trial if necessary. In Illinois, judges use Best Interest Factors to determine parenting time and custody arrangements.

When determining a child’s best interest, judges consider all relevant factors, including the child’s needs, the parents’ wishes, the parents’ cooperation, the history of domestic violence, and other relevant factors. Considerations may also include the child’s:

• Mental and physical health
• Education
• Emotional connection with each parent
• Preferences

 The court will also look at parental consistency, each parent’s living situation, and the fitness of each parent to determine custody.

In Illinois, legal custody refers to the right to make important decisions for a child, whereas physical custody determines where the child will primarily live and which parent is responsible for daily care. Whether you are seeking sole or joint legal custody, our child custody lawyers can assist with the process.

Navigating the legal system in child custody cases in Homer Glen takes a lot of time and energy. Dealing with significant stress is not good for you or your child. A Homer Glen child custody attorney can take the weight off your shoulders in more ways than one. At Vahey Law & Mediation, LLC, we can help:

• Explain the court process: Our attorneys can take the time to make sure you understand each step of the court process, including all requirements and deadlines.
• Create a visitation schedule: We can assist with creating a schedule that is fair to you. We know it can be challenging to coordinate schedules around work and life’s demands.
• Establish a stable routine: With a visitation schedule in place, we can help you establish a stable routine. This is good for your child’s health as well as yours.
• Minimize stress during child custody disputes: By figuring out fair solutions to conflicts such as scheduling, we can help you reduce the stress that inevitably comes with child custody cases.
• File legal paperwork: Our child custody attorneys can help file the necessary paperwork. Knowing which form you need is only part of the process. A lawyer can ensure the court receives everything on time.
• Handle family matters with discretion: We know how sensitive family issues can be. You never have to worry about our firm disrespecting your privacy. We treat every case with the utmost care.
• Advocate for your parental rights: Fighting for your rights is never easy when you are facing emotional conflicts, but you do not have to do it alone. We can advocate for your parental rights to ensure you receive a fair outcome.

How Much Is a Child Custody Lawyer in Illinois?

Calculating the cost of a child custody lawyer is too complex to have a single average cost. Rather, the total cost of your case will depend on the complexity, the specific attorney’s hourly rate, whether the case goes to trial, and other factors. Although financial matters can be stressful, the cost of tackling child custody without a lawyer can be even higher.

 What Is the Biggest Mistake in a Custody Battle?

When a judge follows child custody laws to determine child custody, the biggest mistake parents can make is intentionally making one parent look bad or seeking sympathy from the child. Talking negatively about the child’s other parent can reflect poorly on you, and seeking sympathy from the child can lead to parental alienation and distress.

Who Wins Most Child Custody Cases?

Courts generally grant moms more custody most often. According to a 2023 study, Illinois dads only receive 23.1% of child custody time on average. Trying to go through child custody proceedings without the help of an experienced child custody lawyer can be extremely difficult if you are a dad trying to get more custody of your child. 

How Do Laws Determine an Unstable Parent in Illinois?

In Illinois, the law determines unfitness rather than instability of parents, and the court looks at all evidence to make this decision. For example, a judge may see a parent as unfit if there is clear evidence of child abuse, neglect, parental substance abuse, parental mental health issues, abandonment, criminal activity, or a failure to make an effort to maintain a relationship with the child.

The child custody process can be a very complex process, but it is not something you need to handle alone. When you hire a child custody lawyer from our firm, they can see you through until the end, making the protection of your rights and your child’s best interests their top priorities. Contact Vahey Law & Mediation, LLC, to schedule your consultation today.