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Child Custody

Palatine Child Custody Lawyer

The health and well-being of your child is likely one of the most important priorities in your life. This does not change when you decide to end your relationship with your child's father or mother. The Law Offices of James M. Kelly understands that where and with whom your child shall reside can be a difficult and emotionally taut decision to make.

Founder James M. Kelly is dedicated to helping you achieve a favorable child custody agreement in your divorce settlement. For more than 25 years, he has provided dependable legal counsel and representation to individuals and families in and around Palatine, Illinois, who were struggling with family law issues.

A Schaumburg Child Custody Dispute Attorney Who Cares

A member of the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois, Palatine child custody attorney James M. Kelly has spent years assisting divorcing couples with resolving related issues, such as child custody, child support and alimony, through alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

Although James M. Kelly is a skilled and successful litigator, we often find that divorce issues involving your children are the most fulfilling when both parents are able to work collaboratively in order to come to an agreement.

In Illinois, the court determines the custody of a child by examining several factors that revolve around the best interests of your child. These factors help a judge determine what type of custody each parent will be awarded:

  • Sole custody: A parent who is awarded legal custody of his or her child is given the legal right to make important decisions in the life of a child, including health care, religion and education. Many times, legal custody can be awarded to both parents — this is called joint legal custody.
  • Joint legal custody: In joint legal custody, the mother's and father's rights to and responsibility for making decisions regarding the health, education and religion of the child are equal.
  • Physical custody: A parent who is awarded physical custody is given the legal right to have the child reside with him or her. For the emotional welfare of the child, the parties often agree to award joint physical custody, meaning each parent will share equal time with his or her child.
  • Joint physical custody: In joint physical custody, both parents would share the parenting time with one another as equally as possible.

At The Law Offices of James M. Kelly, we will work with you to establish a custody plan tailored to meet your needs. If this plan cannot be reached through a collaborative law approach, we are prepared to represent your rights and your family's best interests in court.

We take all allegations of domestic abuse or substance abuse seriously, and thoroughly investigate them to protect the safety of our clients and their children.

Learn more about how we handle divorce-related issues involving your children by visiting our Visitation and Parenting Time and Child Support pages.

Contact The Law Offices of James M. Kelly Today

We invite you to call our lawyer at The Law Offices of James M. Kelly at 847-202-1616, or to visit our contact page and schedule a free initial consultation regarding your family law matter. We are located in Palatine, Illinois. We accept all major credit cards and offer flexible scheduling to suit your needs.