Modifying a Parenting Plan

 Posted on February 13, 2024 in Child Custody

As the saying goes, the best-laid plans sometimes fail. No matter how much care you put into your parenting plan when you first got divorced or separated from your child’s other parent, you may have found that the plan is not working as well as you had hoped. There are a number of reasons this can happen. Your child’s needs may have changed, or the ability of a parent to care for the child may have changed due to unforeseen circumstances. Or, you may have newfound fears about your child’s safety or well-being when they are with the other parent. In Illinois, a parenting plan can be modified if a parent can show that a modification is necessary in order to serve the child’s best interests. If you believe that modifying your parenting plan is best for your child, a Naperville, IL, parenting plan modifications attorney can help you fight for the needed modifications.

When Can an Illinois Parenting Plan Be Modified? 

As long as the modification is needed to continue serving the child’s best interests, an Illinois court will likely grant you the modification you are requesting. Common reasons for modifying a parenting plan include:

• Change in the child’s needs - Your child’s needs might change after your divorce or separation. For example, if your child needs mental health care the other parent is not willing to provide, the court may believe it is better for the child to go be with the parent who will take the child to therapy and obtain any recommended prescriptions. 
• New safety concerns - Are you starting to worry about whether your child is safe and cared for when they are with the other parent? If your child is returning from the other parent’s showing signs of neglect, like wearing dirty clothes or not having a coat on when it is cold, or abuse, like unexplained bruises, your parenting plan may need to be changed to protect them. A common safety concern arises when one parent begins dating a questionable person, such as a felon or drug user. 
• Change in parent’s ability - Some parents’ mental health suffers after becoming a single parent with shared custody, causing them to neglect childcare. Or, a parent may develop a new illness that impairs their ability to safely care for the child. 

These are only a few of many valid reasons for modifying an Illinois parenting plan.

Contact a Will County, IL, Parenting Plan Modifications Lawyer

Law Office of Ronald L. Hendrix, P.C. is committed to meeting the needs of children by helping their parents obtain necessary modifications to their parenting plan. Our experienced Naperville, IL, parenting plan modifications attorneys will strive to help you change your parenting plan for the better. Contact us at 630-355-7776 for a free consultation.