Divorce can feel like a lose-lose proposition. No matter what you do, it is virtually impossible for both parents to get everything they want - especially when it comes to issues like parenting time and parental responsibilities.

But difficult compromises are an important part of every divorce because children need both parents whenever possible. Creating a parenting plan that meets the best interests of your children and accommodates you and your spouse’s schedules and needs can be very challenging but it is definitely doable. Finding a workable balance is important for a sustainable co-parenting arrangement, and with the help of an experienced family law attorney, you can do it too. Here are five tips to help.

Create a Parenting Schedule That Makes Sense

While it might be tempting to jockey for as much parenting time as possible, single parenting is difficult. Burned-out parents are not at their best, and children who spend most of their time with only one parent may see their relationship with their other parent suffer. Instead, consider your schedule and propose a realistic solution that meets your needs and your children’s best interests.

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Some mothers in Illinois are reluctant to name their child’s father on a birth certificate and for good reason. Their child’s father may be abusive, angry, or an alcoholic and the mother may fear that by establishing paternity, she is exposing her child to a lifetime of a relationship with a poor caregiver. A mother may also be reluctant to try to establish paternity because she is not sure who the child’s father is. Others still may want to legally name their child’s father but feel unable because the father has passed away.

Yet legally establishing paternity is important for many reasons. Single parenthood is a daunting task that poses a difficult financial and emotional burden. If you are on the fence as to whether or not you want to establish paternity, here are five great benefits that you, your child, and their father could enjoy if you do.

Benefits of Establishing Paternity

• Simplified child support and parenting agreements - Before a father can get parenting time or can be ordered to pay child support, a legal relationship with a child must be established. Even if parents already have a verbal agreement about child support or a co-parenting schedule, not establishing paternity can make these impossible to enforce.
• Social Security and Veterans Administration benefits - Children can get Social Security and VA survivor benefits from parents who have passed away, but only if there is a legal child-parent relationship. These can include cash payments, life insurance, and money for education.
• Health insurance coverage - If a father has insurance through his job, his child may be covered up to age 26. Having good health insurance is essential for helping a child grow up happy and healthy.
• Parent-child relationship - Research shows that children do best when they have a positive relationship with both parents. Of course, certain fathers behave in ways that make co-parenting impossible. But for most of us, imperfect parenting is the name of the game - and although a young child may not have questions about their father yet, they are bound to when they are older.
• Knowledge of family history - Adults sometimes need to know their family history for many reasons. Health questions, genetic risks, and curiosity about heritage and genealogy are all good reasons for having relationships with members of both sides of a child’s family.

Call an Experienced Will County Paternity Lawyer

Proving legal paternity can be difficult, but it can have major payoffs. Although it may not be easy, an experienced Joliet paternity lawyer with The Foray Firm can help you and your child get the benefits of establishing paternity. No matter the situation, we are here to help you establish paternity in a friendly, non-judgmental environment. Call us today at 312-702-1293 to schedule a confidential consultation and learn more.

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Guns are powerful tools that can be used for many different purposes. Unfortunately, sometimes individuals living in Illinois use firearms to threaten, hurt, or intimidate family members and intimate partners in terrifying acts of domestic violence. People using firearms unsafely may even be a threat to themselves. When misuse of firearms becomes serious enough that gun violence may be an imminent threat, a Firearms Restraining Order (FRO) is a type of order of protection that is available in Illinois.

What Is a Firearms Restraining Order?

Illinois enacted a law beginning January 1st, 2019, called the Firearms Restraining Order Act. This act allows someone’s family, parents, roommates, or anyone else who lives in the same house to petition for a court order prohibiting that person from owning or buying guns for up to six months. Law enforcement can also petition for a FRO.

Unfortunately, after many fatal shooting incidents, family members and friends of the shooter have often observed warning signs from the perpetrator that they might harm themselves or others. Although it is hard to believe that someone you know and love could do such a thing, acts of gun violence happen every day, and missing the signs can have tragic consequences. Here are common warning signs that someone may be in crisis:

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In our last blog post, we discussed Orders of Protection in Illinois and how they can be obtained. Orders of Protection are meant to keep victims and abusers separate when they share or have shared a domestic relationship. But not all victims are in domestic relationships, and in these cases, other help may be necessary.

Fortunately, there are other types of protection that victims can obtain from an Illinois court. “Civil no-contact orders” protect victims of “nonconsensual sexual conduct” who want their abuser to be prohibited from contacting them. If you feel you are in danger of harm, whether psychological or physical, a civil no-contact order may be helpful to you.

Who Can Get a Civil No-Contact Order?

The purpose of a civil no-contact order is to protect victims of sexual assault. According to Illinois law, this includes any nonconsensual sexual conduct or sexual penetration. Civil no-contact orders can protect more than just the victim - her children, parents, current partner, and other household members can also be included in the petition so the abuser cannot contact them or harass the victim through other people. Parents can also obtain civil no-contact orders on behalf of a minor child.

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Victims of domestic violence in Illinois face a difficult set of choices. Because many victims fear that they may face retaliation if they seek legal help, it can feel as though they are in the impossible dilemma of trying to fix a problem only to risk it getting worse. But if you feel stuck in an abusive situation where you are enduring emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, you likely already know that you do not want to live with it forever. Fortunately, there is help available: you can file for an order of protection in Will County today.

First, Make Sure You Are Safe

Statistics show that victims of domestic violence are most likely to be attacked if they try to leave their abuser or get help. It is important to make sure that you have a plan or a place to go if you are afraid for your safety. You may not be able to control your abuser’s behavior, but you can resolve to put yourself and your children in a safe place. Once you are ready, you can file for an order of protection at any time - even at night or over the weekend when the court is closed.

Complete the Order of Protection Forms

Three important forms are required to apply for an order of protection:

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