Illinois has joined the rest of the nation in adopting the Uniform Child Custody Act (UCCA), which is intended to minimize interstate child custody conflicts. Illinois child custody laws allow parents and guardians the option of joint custody and recognize grandparent visitation rights, among other things.
Illinois courts recognize legal custody and physical custody. The term legal custody refers to the right of a parent or guardian to make major life decisions, such as schooling and religious upbringing. The term physical custody refers to the decision of which parent or guardian the child lives with. As in other states, either one (sole custody) or both (joint custody) parents may have legal and/or physical custody.
For example, a joint legal custody arrangement allows both parents to make major life decisions on behalf of the child. In a sole physical custody arrangement, the child lives with one parent full-time, even if the non-custodial parent has visitation rights or shares in the legal custody arrangement.
Illinois child custody laws stipulate that children 14 and older may choose which parent to live with, but the judge may overrule this decision if he or she determines the child's decision is not in his or her best interests. A parenting plan generally recognizes the following:
Parenting plans also identify now children will spend birthdays and other holidays; transportation arrangements; when supervision is required; and other considerations.
Learn more about Illinois child custody laws in the table below, along with links to related articles and resources. See FindLaw's Child Custody section for additional information.
| Code Section | 750 ILCS 5/601, 602, 607 |
| Year Uniform Child Custody Act Adopted | 1979 |
| Joint Custody an Option? | Yes, 750 ILCS 5/602.1 |
| Grandparent Visitation Rights Recognized? | Yes, 750 ILCS 5/607(b)-(e) |
| Child's Own Wishes Considered? | Yes |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- your best course of action is to contact an Illinois child custody attorney. Barring that you should conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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Illinois Child Custody Laws: Related Resources
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Determining a child's custody requires thoughtful decision-making. Sometimes it is not possible to resolve these difficult issues through mediation or agreement. If you are in this challenging situation, then you should turn to an experienced Illinois family law attorney for guidance on how to proceed.
