• The Way Child Custody Arrangements and Child Support Work in Jacksonville Illinois

    One of the most difficult processes during the divorce settlement is deciding child custody and child support. The most important issue is making sure that your children have a stable environment to grow up in and are financially secure. The goal of Michael A. Hankins Attorney at Law is to work with both parties to put their differences aside to ensure they reach an agreement that is in their child’s best interest. Schedule a legal consultation and speak with our experienced attorneys to help find a solution in your child’s best interest.

  • How Child Custody is Determined

    The way in which child custody is determined can be complex and based on a number of different characteristics; no case is the same. The court is determined to make a decision that is based on the child’s best interests, and that plays a major role in determining custody arrangements and the allocation of parental responsibility. Custody can be given to both or one of the parents and allows visitation rights. Parental responsibility is divided into two parts: decision-making rights and visitation rights.

  • Child Support Payments

  • A factor that tends to be involved in child custody agreements is child support. The amount that one parent pays to the other varies and depends on a number of components that are specific to each case. Two major factors involved in child support payments are the amount of parenting time each party has and the income of each individual parent.

  • Allocation of Parenting Time (Custody and Visitation)

  • The allocation of the child is one of the toughest decisions that the court will make. Allocation, in the court's eye, regards how much time a parent will get to spend with their child, and who will primarily make the decisions on the child’s behalf. Every case is different and can have a unique allocation outcome. For example, the mother of the child could be given primary allocation and have the child stay with her most nights, while the father can make all the decisions on the child’s behalf, such as which school they attend, healthcare specialist they see, or religion they practice. 

  • Allocation goes deeper than just the parenting hours that each parent receives; it also involves every single decision made on the child’s behalf. It is always best to compromise and solve this aspect outside the courtroom, but that is not always a viable solution. The following include the different types of allocation of parenting time: 

  • • Supervised/Unsupervised Visitation
    • Specific Locations for Visits
    • No Visitation Allowed

  • • No Overnight Visits
    • No Weekend Visits

  • Paternity Law

  • Establishing a child's paternity is one of the most important factors in creating a healthy living environment. Paternity is the legal documentation to ensure a child is provided with financial security, social security benefits, health insurance benefits, life insurance benefits, and medical history accessibility. Sometimes paternity can be unknown, leaving a child unable to receive the above-mentioned items.

  • Parents can sign a Voluntary Acknowledgement of Paternity in the case of unwed parents. If one party doesn’t sign, it can be taken to court and can result in a paternity test being performed.

    Contact Michael A. Hankins Attorney at Law for any information regarding paternity law in Jacksonville, Illinois.