What To Do After a Divorce When You Have Kids in Illinois

Going through a divorce isn’t easy. But going through a divorce with kids can be even more challenging. 

When children are involved, that can often mean deciding difficult issues of child custody including decision-making and parenting time. At Diamond Divorce Law, we do everything in our power to help make the custody process for our clients as smooth as possible.

But after all is said and done, it can be difficult to know how to move forward and make sure your children’s lives are as normal as ever. To help you with that, our team of expert divorce attorneys in McHenry, Illinois has put together this checklist for what to do after a divorce when you have kids.

Divorce and child custody in Illinois

Our attorneys have over four decades of experience helping people through everything from amicable, uncontested divorces to vicious court battles.

In almost every case when the divorced couple has children, custody is one of the most contentious issues. Both parents may want what’s best for their kids, but that doesn’t mean they agree on where their children live or who is responsible for them.

In Illinois, the term “custody” isn’t technically used anymore. Instead, the courts refer to “parental responsibilities,” which are generally broken up into two categories:

• Decision-making: on things such as education, religion, health care, and extracurricular activities
• Parenting time: how much time the child spends with each parent, also known as “visitation”

If you and your spouse disagree on these important issues, you will have to move into mediation to reach a legal agreement. And if even that doesn’t work, then a judge may have to make the final decisions about parental responsibilities.

If you need help making sure that your child is in the best hands after your divorce, don’t hesitate to talk to an experienced family law attorney. At Diamond Divorce, we will make sure your voice is heard and that your family is protected during your custody case.

Checklist for recently-divorced parents in Illinois

Once all the decisions about custody have been made, and your divorce is finalized, you’ll still need to keep a few things in mind to make sure your divorce goes over as smoothly as possible for your kids:

• Emergency contact information: Make sure the schools where your children attend always have up-to-date emergency contact information .
• Residency information: Most school districts have strict residency requirements, as well, so make sure your child’s residency matches the one where they attend school to ensure you don’t run into any issues.
• Proof of parental rights: If your children are in day care, you may need to provide proof of parental rights. Make sure you always have certified copies of your paperwork on you.
• Court requirements: Confirm that you are doing everything required by the court in terms of your divorce, including:
• • Providing health insurance for your children
  • Providing life insurance for your children
  • Clarifying who pays for medical expenses not covered by health insurance
  • Participating in extracurricular activities
  • Providing for college or post-high school educational expenses

When in doubt about any of these issues – or any other issues you and your children may face during a divorce – it’s always best to double check with your divorce attorney or legal team.

Contact an Illinois divorce attorney today

At Diamond Legal, our number one priority is what’s best for you and your family. We know how to present your case and make sure that your voice is heard, so that you can stay in your child’s life and help them get what’s best for them. And if you have any questions about what to do after your divorce, we are happy to help you fulfill every step in this checklist.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation.

DISCLAIMER: Any information contained herein is solely for informational purposes. While it is important that you educate yourself, nothing herein should be construed as legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. For specific questions, we urge you to contact a local attorney for advice pertaining to your specific legal needs.