There’s more flexibility in allocating decision-making power, it’s not an all-or-nothing as it once was. For example, a judge may decide that the mother should be responsible for making decisions on education and extracurricular activities and that the father is more appropriate to be responsible for making decisions with regard to healthcare.
A judge could also decide that both parents be responsible for decisions in one, two, or perhaps all of the areas. The judge will decide separately for each major area, and the assignment of parental responsibilities will depend on the facts of each situation in each case. Of course this can always be done by agreement if the parties are able to agree. Each case really has different facts and the results can be very different. If both parents agree on how to split and share these different responsibilities, they can enter into a written parenting agreement. But if they don’t agree, it will be taken to the judge and the judge will examine the facts of each case and use the best interest of the child to reach a decision on all of the areas.
Arin Fife is a family lawyer at Boyle Feinberg, P.C. in Illinois. To learn more about the firm, visit www.bffamlaw.com. Visit their firm profile here.
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