Chicago Divorce Lawyer Russell Knight Discusses the Age When a Child Can Choose Not To Visit The Non-Custodial Parent In Illinois

February 01, 2022 - /PressAdvantage/ - Chicago divorce lawyer Russell Knight releases a new blog post (https://rdklegal.com/at-what-age-can-a-child-choose-not-to-visit-the-non-custodial-parent-in-illinois/) that explains the age at which a child may be able to choose not to visit the non-custodial parent in Illinois. The lawyer mentions that parenting is hard, especially when both parents are not parenting in the same household.

According to the Chicago divorce lawyer, “The shuttling back and forth of children to two different homes is hard on everyone involved. Children are by definition immature and cannot make decisions for themselves but that doesn’t mean children don’t have opinions.”

The lawyer explains that the visitation laws of Illinois say that two parents are supposed to submit both proposed parenting plans to the courts within 120 days of filing the divorce or the parenting action. Submitting these proposed plans will help the court determine the parenting schedule.

The family law attorney also adds that sometimes parents are not able to agree on the parenting schedule and will provide conflicting information to the court. This situation may call for a judge to appoint a Guardian Ad Litem who will investigate the family circumstances.

“A Guardian Ad Litem is an attorney appointed to represent the best interests of the child. The Guardian Ad Litem functions as 'the eyes and ears of the court'. The Guardian Ad Litem will visit both homes, interview both parents and, finally, interview the children,” attorney Knight says.

Aside from the aforementioned, the Chicago divorce attorney explains that the status specifically looks at the maturity of the child. If a child refuses to visit the other parent, the courts may have to enforce the visitation in order to “keep the siblings together”. However, a court is more likely to consider a 16-year-old’s preference in comparison to a 4-year-olds hesitation to visit the parent.

Lastly, attorney Russell Knight emphasizes the importance of having a skilled lawyer when it comes to matters like child custody or other family matters. Having an experienced attorney may be able to help the parent understand what steps they need to take next.

About The Law Office of Russell Knight

The Law Office of Russell D. Knight was established in 2009 by the family law attorney Russell D. Knight. The lawyer has always focused on family and divorce law. Russell's love for family law is demonstrated by the numerous articles personally written by the lawyer. Russell has been licensed as a lawyer throughout Florida in both Florida and Illinois. Contact them today at (773) 334-6311.

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Law Office of Russell D. Knight
Russell D. Knight
773 334 6311
[email protected]
1165 N Clark St # 700, Chicago, IL 60610, United States

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