Hinsdale Family Law Decision-Making Attorney

Family Law Attorney Helping Families with Allocation of Decision-Making Responsibilities

Childrearing involves a lot of parental decision-making. When both parents are on the same page about how their children should be raised, decision-making may come easily. However, when the parents have different philosophies or different beliefs about how children should be brought up, parental decision-making can be a source of great conflict. In some cases, major disagreements about how to raise the children can be the reason a married couple decides to get divorced. A major part of creating a parenting plan is the allocation of parental responsibilities, which includes decision-making responsibilities.

CG Law LLC is experienced in guiding parents who have differing cultural, religious, or philosophical beliefs about childrearing as they allocate decision-making responsibilities during alternative dispute resolution. We can also advocate for the best interests of your child in court if it becomes necessary. Our goal is to help your family create a parenting plan that meets the needs of your children and protects the rights of both parents.

Factors in Allocating Parental Decision-Making Responsibility

The best interests of the child come first when deciding which parent should retain decision-making responsibilities. The problem is that parents may disagree on what decisions are best for the child. One parent may feel strongly that homeschooling would be best for the child, while the other may firmly believe that the child needs the socialization that comes with attending an in-person school.

While parents are often able to come to agreements through alternative dispute resolution, the court may sometimes need to step in and allocate decision-making responsibilities when the parents cannot agree. Factors that might be considered include:

• Each parent's ability to put the child's needs ahead of their own - A parent's ability to make a decision that is best for the child rather than best for the parent is important.
• The wishes of the child - Older children in particular have some right to have their wishes respected if they are capable of acting in their own self-interest. For example, if your 12-year-old child says that she wants to wear a hijab and be involved at a local mosque, the parent who is willing to facilitate this may see this factor come out in their favor.
• Each party's mental and physical health - Parents' and children's mental and physical health may play a role. A parent's mental health condition may impair their ability to make the best decisions for the child. A child who is sick may need a parent who is willing to facilitate good healthcare to make medical decisions for them.
• Each parent's wishes - Being a parent means that you should have some say in how your child is raised.

Types of Parental Decisions

Some parental decision-making responsibilities that will need to be allocated include:

• Whether and how to provide religious upbringing - Parents of different religious beliefs may need clear boundaries regarding each parent's right to provide religious training.
• How to educate the child - Parents today have many options when it comes to deciding how their child should be educated. If there is a disagreement, the parents or the court will need to determine which parent should make that choice.
• What healthcare to provide - Parents may disagree on what type of medical and mental health care a child should receive. Many conditions come with multiple treatment options.
• Enrollment in activities – Which activities a child is enrolled in and may participate in recreationally may be a source of conflict or a place where boundaries regarding enrollment and an activity’s disproportionate effects on one parent’s parenting time and the child’s schedule will need to be considered.

Contact a Chicago, IL Attorney for Parental Decision-Making Responsibility

CG Law LLC is committed to helping parents resolve disagreements about important parenting decisions during the divorce process. Our experienced DuPage County child custody lawyers will work to help you ensure that your child's needs will be met. Contact us at 312-884-9012 for a complimentary consultation.