Kendall County Parenting Time Lawyers

Attorney for Child Visitation in Yorkville and Oswego

When a couple with children decides to end their marriage through divorce, or a relationship ends, the children are often caught in the middle. In most cases, it is extremely important for both parents to maintain healthy relationships with their children, though doing so can be challenging.

I am Attorney Matthew M. Williams from the The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., and I take the rights of parents seriously, especially those who are no longer married or were never married to the child's other parent. With more than 15 years of family law experience, I work hard to help parents negotiate equitable parenting time schedules that allow each parent to play a significant role in the child's life.

Parenting Time Matters to Children

For decades, Illinois law guaranteed parents the reasonable right to visitation with his or her child, no matter what the relationship was like between the adults. The law was well-intentioned, as it sought to allow a parent to maintain a relationship with the child. Unfortunately, the terminology and approach used in the law often had the unintended consequence of making a parent with "visitation" rights feel like an outsider. With this in mind, the applicable law was updated several years ago to replace the concept of "visitation" with the more inclusive idea of "parenting time," which is more reflective of the rights and responsibilities that come with being a parent.

Specific judges and local courts may offer suggested parenting time schedules or standard templates for divorcing parents, but the law itself does not provide any standardized parenting time arrangements. This means that the parents may develop a workable schedule on their own. If they cannot do so, the court will devise a parenting time schedule that places the child's best interest above all other priorities. With my knowledge of Illinois law and my client-focused approach, I can help you create an arrangement for parenting time that serves your child's needs while protecting your rights as well. The distance between the parents' homes, each parent's work schedule, and the child's involvement in school and extracurricular activities must all be considered when developing a parenting time schedule.

Aurora Lawyer Protecting Parents' Rights

In most cases, one parent will be granted a majority of the parenting time, because an equal, 50/50 split is sometimes not feasible. Sometimes, however, one parent may be given almost all of the parenting time with a child. If you have very limited time with your child or your former partner is interfering with your scheduled parenting time, I can help you take action to protect your rights. I know that it can be quite intimidating to navigate the Illinois legal system on your own—particularly if you have been treated poorly by the system in the past. You deserve to have the access to your child that was promised by your current parenting plan, and I will work with you in exploring your available options, which may include filing for a modification of your existing plan.

Parenting Time Restrictions in Kane County

If you have any reason to believe that your child is in danger when he or she spends time with the other parent, it is important for you to speak up and take action. Under Illinois law, the court has the authority to place restrictions on a parent's time with his or her child if the parent is deemed to present a serious physical, emotional, moral, or psychological danger to the child. I understand the grave nature of situations such as these, and I can assist you in seeking restrictions on the other parent's parenting time so that your child remains safe.

Contact Me for Help

If you have questions about parenting time or visitation concerns, contact my office to get the answers you need. Call 630-409-8184 for a confidential consultation at the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. today. I help clients in Oswego, Yorkville, Batavia, Aurora, St. Charles, Geneva, Naperville, Wheaton, Kendall County, Kane County, DuPage County, and the surrounding areas.