Lasting Effects of Temporary Child Custody Agreements

 Posted on April 25, 2024 in Child Custody

When Illinois courts are deciding on a parenting time calendar, they strive to create the arrangement that is best for the child. One of the factors the court will consider is any temporary or existing arrangements the parents have made regarding childcare. Since most parents stop living together while their divorce or child custody case is in court, most parents have some type of temporary arrangement. These temporary arrangements might be formal and in writing, or they might be casual agreements between the parents. Sometimes the parents even have temporary court orders.

Parents should know that their temporary arrangements might impact the permanent schedule the court creates. If you are involved in a child custody case, you need to be represented by an experienced Will County, IL, child custody attorney.

Understanding the Existing Arrangements Factor 

Any existing course of conduct the parents have shown concerning childcare is one of the factors the court will consider. This refers to any pattern of behavior the parents have established when it comes to caring for the child. Children benefit from stability. For example, if mom gets the children ready for school every morning and gets them off the bus in the afternoon, that is a part of your course of conduct. Other types of patterns the court may look for include:

• Current parenting time arrangements - If the children have been alternating one week with mom and then one week with dad the entire time the case has been pending, and this arrangement seems to be working well for everyone, the court may want to keep the status quo. 
• How each parent cares for the child - Is one parent normally responsible for transporting the child to her extracurricular activities? Does one parent cook a balanced meal every night? Is only one parent getting up in the middle of the night to feed, change, and soothe a young baby while the other has never changed a diaper? Would a young child miss the more involved parent? 
• Patterns of involvement - If Papa is coaching one child’s little league team while Dad is heavily involved in the other child’s scouting troop, the court may want to try to create an arrangement that does not take that level of parental involvement away from either child.

The patterns and ways of sharing childcare duties you and the other parent established during your relationship or are establishing now matter.

Contact a Will County, IL Child Custody Lawyer 

Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. is dedicated to helping parents resolve their child custody cases in the most cooperative ways possible. Our caring Naperville, IL child custody attorneys are experienced in helping parents work together to do what is best for their children. Contact us at 630-355-7776 for a complimentary consultation.