An Illinois parent who does not have as much time with his or her children after a divorce may want to get into a position to renegotiate. In order to increase the odds of receiving more parenting time, it would be a good idea to take certain steps. Improving his or her position could help make a case for modification of an existing child custody order.
For instance, the parent who does not have as much parenting time may want to make sure he or she arrives on time for pickups and drop-offs, and otherwise adhere to the current order. If the visitation is supervised, a parent should make the most of it and focus on the time he or she has with the children. When a parent shows that he or she will take advantage of every hour or minute of time with them, and avoids conflict with the other parent, it could go a long way toward showing the desire for more time.
It is also vital to make sure that the best interests of the children remain a priority. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the divorce, it is not the children’s fault. In addition, it shows that the individual is willing to put aside differences with the other parent in lieu of the making the children happy if arguments or other negative exchanges with or about the other parent are avoided.
These are just a couple of things an Illinois parent can do to make it clear that he or she wants more time with the children. A family law attorney will be able to point out other positive steps to take. It may even be possible to obtain a modification of the current order through amicable negotiations with the other parent, but if not, going to court remains a viable option.
