Life Changes that Could Affect Your Parenting Plan

 Posted on April 20, 2021 in Family Law

When going through a divorce that involves children, you will have to create a parenting plan with your spouse that outlines important details of child custody arrangements. Parenting plans are legally binding and each parent must abide by the terms outlined within them. However, it is well understood that the only constant in life is change and changes in your life circumstances can affect your parenting plan. Below are five common situations that could result in changes to your plan.

Changes in Employment

When you first create your parenting plan, you will likely customize it to work around you and your work schedule. If you change jobs or get promoted and it changes the hours you spend at work, it will likely impact your parenting plan and you may need to make adjustments to it.

Changes in Personal Relationships

After a divorce, you are still entitled to a social life, even when you are a parent at the same time. You have a right to go out with your friends, and the right to enter into a new relationship. While these are exciting things, they may also impact your parenting plan. This is particularly true when you begin a new romantic relationship, as your former spouse may argue that they do not want your children to spend time with your new partner. There may be no basis for this and you can fight those arguments as well, but a new relationship may impact your parenting plan.

Changes in Your Living Situations

Whether you have to move for your job, or you simply want to move somewhere else to be closer to family or for another reason, it can drastically affect your parenting plan. The further away you move from your child or where you lived during and immediately after the divorce, the greater impact it will have on your parenting plan.

Changes in Familial Obligations

Your family situation may change post-divorce, and that may affect your parenting plan. You may have to spend more time taking care of your parents once they are elderly, or you may have another child with a new spouse. These are just two of the familial changes that commonly affect parenting plans.

Changes in Your Former Spouse’s Behavior

If your former spouse becomes aggressive with you, fights with you, or refuses to comply with the parenting plan, you should speak with your divorce lawyer and take them to court to enforce the order. The Illinois family law statutes state that actions that have the potential to become dangerous, such as substance abuse, can result in a loss of custody rights.

Our Illinois Family Lawyers Can Help with Changes in Your Parenting Plan

If you need to make changes in your parenting plan or have a personal situation that you think may impact your current plan, our skilled DuPage County family lawyers are here to help. At the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio, we will review your parenting plan and advise on how certain circumstances may affect it. We will also help you fight for your rights and ensure they are upheld. Call us today at 630-920-8855 or fill out our online form to schedule a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=6000000&SeqEnd=8300000