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Tips for co-parenting in Illinois

On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC on Tuesday, November 20, 2012.

Parenting is certainly not always easy. Even in families where both parents are still together, it can often be hard for both mom and dad to come to agreements on how to raise their children. In the cases of divorce, at times, it can even feel downright impossible.

However, keep in mind that there are plenty of parents in Illinois who are divorced and raising children. In many of these cases, the children no longer have to listen to mom and dad bicker and argue on a daily basis and are actually better off because of it. In these cases, where children are being raised by consistent and respectful parents, the parents are choosing to work together to co-parent their children.

When co-parenting, the first thing to keep in mind is that children deserve to have two parents and express that love for both of their parents. This means divorced parents need to be particularly cognizant of how they are coming off toward each other, keeping up that children can easily pick up on non-verbal cues.

Also keep in mind that children want to be able to love both of their parents, without having to be in the middle of their parents. This means kids should never be used to pass messages or child support back and forth between parents. Rather, the parents need to find a way that works for them to be able to communicate with each other without having to involve the children.

And, speaking of communication, having clear arrangements and a way to update each other on any changes is essential when it comes to co-parenting. If these changes are ones that are going to be permanent, like a change to a visitation schedule, it’s important these changes are reflected in any parenting plans or child support agreements. Having these in writing can prevent future arguments.

Of course these are just some suggestions. When it comes to the legal aspects of co-parenting and protecting parental rights, an attorney with experience handling Illinois family law issues can help to explain all legal options.

Source: Parent Express, “Successful co-parenting after divorce,” Adrianna Elliot, Nov. 15, 2012

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