Multi-State Divorce & Family Law Blog by Stange Law Firm, PC

When the end of a relationship or divorce is imminent, most parents’ primary concern is who will receive custody of their children. In many cases, parents can develop a parenting plan that determines custody and visitation arrangements before divorce proceedings occur. However, if an agreement is not possible, a judge must issue a custody order in Oklahoma family court. When child custody disputes arise, both parents and sometimes even the child themselves often have strong feelings about how custody arrangements should proceed. In this situation, procuring the services of a skilled Oklahoma City child custody attorney is essential to ensure

In most cases, divorcing parents want to spend as much time as possible with their children, and Oklahoma courts operate under the assumption that allowing a child to maintain contact with both parents is ideal for all involved. However, when there is uncertainty regarding whether remaining with a parent is truly in the child’s best interests, the courts must determine that person’s fitness to continue parenting. If you have been accused of being an unfit parent—or if you fear your former spouse is unable to provide for the best interests of your child—learn as much as possible about the factors

These days, fewer and fewer couples choose to marry before having children. The most recent United States Census revealed that nearly 40% of all births in the United States occur to unmarried women. In some cases, unmarried couples choose to stay with one another, but in many others—25% of all children in 2020—the child resides with only one parent. In the vast majority of these cases, that parent is the mother. When it comes to unwed parents and single-parent households, Illinois is consistent with the national average, with more than 36% of all births in a recent year occurring to

When an Illinois couple divorces, one of the primary concerns of all parties involved is the children’s primary living situation. Many parents choose to share physical custody, requiring children to live part of the time with one parent and part of the time with the other. Still, others choose to assign one parent primary physical custody and allow children to visit the non-custodial parent on weekends and holidays or at other times of their choosing. While children may take some time to become accustomed to this new living arrangement, most eventually adapt well, visiting the non-custodial parent enthusiastically or without

During the divorce process, some of the most critical issues revolve around child custody and visitation. Typically, parents work together—usually with the assistance of a skilled Bloomington, IL, child custody lawyer—to establish a parenting plan before the divorce is finalized. In some cases, however, parents cannot agree on where the child will live most of the time or the other parent’s visitation rights. Although there are several considerations weighed by the courts to determine a fair custody agreement in the child’s best interests, one of the most impactful occurs when a child expresses a preference regarding which parent they would

During any Illinois family law proceedings, some of the most pressing questions parents have involve the determination of child custody. In the past, determining child custody depended solely on the laws set forth by each state, making child custody cases involving parents in different states—or a parent who has recently moved into or out of a state—especially complicated. Fortunately, in part to minimize interstate custody disputes, Illinois adopted the Uniform Child Custody and Jurisdiction Act, or UCCJEA. Illinois Child Custody Jurisdiction Before an Illinois judge can issue a custody order as part of a divorce or other child custody dispute,

In Illinois courts, as in family courts throughout the nation, the court’s primary function is to achieve what is in the best interests of the children involved. As a result, Illinois family law courts generally opt to allow both parents to continue participating in their children’s lives. Unfortunately, in situations where remaining in the care of a parent would result in abuse, neglect, or other harm to the children, the children’s best interests may involve declaring a parent unfit. Ramifications of Unfit Parent Accusations While the state of Illinois prefers to allow children to remain with their parents, as mentioned

Custodial agreements can be long and complex and vary a lot from case to case. That’s why it’s critical that you become familiar with the various components of a custodial agreement, as well as the legal language involved. For example, consider the concepts of legal and physical custody, which several states establish as two separate legal terms. Often, people only think of custody in terms of where the child is physically located and imagine that custody battles are generally focused now determining the child’s primary residence and discussing how many weekends and holidays are awarded to the other parent. While