Most people in Illinois think custody only refers to where a child will live most of the time. Legally, however, custody also refers to the ability of one or both parents to make important decisions for the child in such areas as medical, educational, counseling and religious choices. This decision-making ability is referred to as legal custody.
Factors in determining child custody
Every state has their own unique statutes that address child custody. However, Illinois parents might be interested to learn that most child custody statues are written with the same goal, which is to further the best interests of the child. Courts around the country use similar factors in determining what is in a child's best interest. The gender of a parent is rarely, if ever, a factor in child custody orders.
Pacers player petitions for sole custody of child
NBA fans in Illinois may be interested to read that Indiana Pacers player Paul George is seeking a second paternity test as part of a custody dispute with the child's mother. While records show that the woman has previously filed a paternity test that indicated with 99.9 percent probability that George is the child's biological father, George has stated that he has various "misgivings" about the accuracy of that test. However, he also says that if the second test confirms his paternity, he will embrace it and pursue sole custody of the two-month-old.
Pet custody during divorce
Many Illinois residents consider their pets to be cherished family members, but the law takes a different position. While disputes over pets are not as common as disagreements regarding property division or child custody, they can often be just as contentious. The welfare of children is the primary consideration when custody decisions are made, but pets are viewed by the law as simply another piece of marital property.
Child custody battles reach across the nation
Illinois has become the latest state to involve itself in a matter that has touched family law courts across the nation. For years, courts traditionally awarded child custody to the mother of children, unless she was deemed unfit for parenthood. This preference was based on gender-role assumptions of the past, where women often stayed home and men worked outside the home to bring in money. However, a change in gender roles - namely, that women are working outside the home more than before - has prompted some advocates to argue for a change in child custody laws.
International travel in the wake of divorce
For Illinois parents who are able, allowing a child to travel abroad can be beneficial for development and understanding of the world. In some cases, a child may wish to travel with a parent who is divorced. For parents who have split amicably and still trust one another, this might not present much of a problem. In some cases, though, there may be a risk - or at least a perceived risk - of the traveling parent failing to return the child. The non-traveling parent may object to travel plans, but he or she does not always have the power to deny the opportunity. However, there are ways that non-traveling parents can help ensure that children return safely after trips abroad.
Review finds custody bias
A recently published review by Drexel University showing that LGBT parents face bias in court over issues related to child custody may interest Illinois readers. The review found that a gay or lesbian person who is coming out of a heterosexual relationship could be denied custody or face visitation restrictions. For a same-sex couple, if the state does not recognize one of the parents as a legal parent, he or she may also face custody and visitation difficulties.
Mother and grandfather in child custody fight
The mother of a Florida girl is seeking custody of her daughter after the child's father confessed to murdering his mother in February. The father had sole custody of the girl at the time, and they were living with his mother. The child's paternal grandfather is also attempting to terminate the mother's parental rights.
Mathematics, science used in child custody arrangements
One of the hurdles divorced couples in Illinois may face is arranging visitation times when the former spouses have joint custody of their children. An even bigger obstacle is when one of the former spouses gets involved in a relationship with another divorced person with children. In that situation it may be difficult to arrange a period where all of the children visit at the same time. For some folks, physics may be able to solve their issues.
More men becoming single fathers than ever before
Illinois fathers may be interested to learn that, in the last 50 years, the number of households with minor children that are headed by single fathers has risen to 2.6 million from just the fewer than 300,000 in 1960. In a study that was recently released, it was revealed that approximately eight percent of such households were run by single fathers in 2011, compared to one percent in 1960.
