Illinois child custody laws are found in Title 750, Chapter 5, Part 6 of the Illinois Code.

If you are involved in an Illinois child custody case, I recommend that you hire a child custody lawyer in order to have your best chance to win custody. However, it is also important to educate yourself. Below, are sections 602, 602.1, and 604.5 of the Illinios child custody statutes..

Sec. 602. Best Interest of Child.

(a) The court shall determine custody in accordance with the best interest of the child. The court shall consider all relevant factors including:

1. The wishes of the child’s parent or parents as to his custody;
2. The wishes of the child as to his custodian;
3. The interaction and interrelationship of the child with his parent or parents, his siblings and any other person who may significantly affect the child’s best interest;
4. The child’s adjustment to his home, school and community;
5. The mental and physical health of all individuals involved;
6. The physical violence or threat of physical violence by the child’s potential custodian, whether directed against the child or directed against another person;
7. The occurrence of ongoing or repeated abuse as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, whether directed against the child or directed against another person;
8. The willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the other parent and the child; and
9. Whether one of the parents is a sex offender.

In the case of a custody proceeding in which a stepparent has standing under Section 601, it is presumed to be in the best interest of the minor child that the natural parent have the custody of the minor child unless the presumption is rebutted by the stepparent.

(b) The court shall not consider conduct of a present or proposed custodian that does not affect his relationship to the child.

(c) Unless the court finds the occurrence of ongoing abuse as defined in Section 103 of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, the court shall presume that the maximum involvement and cooperation of both parents regarding the physical, mental, moral, and emotional well‑being of their child is in the best interest of the child. There shall be no presumption in favor of or against joint custody.

JOINT CUSTODY

Sec. 602.1. (a) The dissolution of marriage, the declaration of invalidity of marriage, the legal separation of the parents, or the parents living separate and apart shall not diminish parental powers, rights, and responsibilities except as the court for good reason may determine under the standards of Section 602.

(b) Upon the application of either or both parents, or upon its own motion, the court shall consider an award of joint custody. Joint custody means custody determined pursuant to a Joint Parenting Agreement or a Joint Parenting Order. In such cases, the court shall initially request the parents to produce a Joint Parenting Agreement. Such Agreement shall specify each parent’s powers, rights and responsibilities for the personal care of the child and for major decisions such as education, health care, and religious training.

The Agreement shall further specify a procedure by which proposed changes, disputes and alleged breaches may be mediated or otherwise resolved and shall provide for a periodic review of its terms by the parents. In producing a Joint Parenting Agreement, the parents shall be flexible in arriving at resolutions which further the policy of this State as expressed in Sections 102 and 602.

For the purpose of assisting the court in making a determination whether an award of joint custody is appropriate, the court may order mediation and may direct that an investigation be conducted pursuant to the provisions of Section 605. If there is a danger to the health or safety of a partner, joint mediation shall not be required by the court.

In the event the parents fail to produce a Joint Parenting Agreement, the court may enter an appropriate Joint Parenting Order under the standards of Section 602 which shall specify and contain the same elements as a Joint Parenting Agreement, or it may award sole custody under the standards of Sections 602, 607, and 608.

(c) The court may enter an order of joint custody if it determines that joint custody would be in the best interests of the child, taking into account the following:

1. The ability of the parents to cooperate effectively and consistently in matters that directly affect the joint parenting of the child. "Ability of the parents to cooperate" means the parents’ capacity to substantially comply with a Joint Parenting Order. The court shall not consider the inability of the parents to cooperate effectively and consistently in matters that do not directly affect the joint parenting of the child;
2. The residential circumstances of each parent; and
3. All other factors which may be relevant to the best interest of the child.

(d) Nothing within this section shall imply or presume that joint custody shall necessarily mean equal parenting time. The physical residence of the child in joint custodial situations shall be determined by:

• Express agreement of the parties; or
• Order of the court under the standards of this section.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, access to records and information pertaining to a child, including but not limited to medical, dental, child care and school records, shall not be denied to a parent for the reason that such parent is not the child’s custodial parent; however, no parent shall have access to the school records of a child if the parent is prohibited by an order of protection from inspecting or obtaining such records pursuant to the Illinois Domestic Violence Act of 1986, as now or hereafter amended.

No parent who is a named respondent in an order of protection issued pursuant to the Domestic Violence Act of 1986 shall have access to the health care records of a child who is a protected person under that order of protection.

BEST INTEREST

Sec. 604.5. Evaluation of child’s best interest.

(a) In a proceeding for custody, visitation, or removal of a child from Illinois, upon notice and motion made within a reasonable time before trial, the court may order an evaluation concerning the best interest of the child as it relates to custody, visitation, or removal.

The motion may be made by a party, a parent, the child’s custodian, the attorney for the child, the child’s guardian ad litem, or the child’s representative.

The requested evaluation may be in place of or in addition to an evaluation conducted under subsection (b) of Section 604. The motion shall state the identity of the proposed evaluator and set forth the evaluator’s specialty or discipline.

The court may refuse to order an evaluation by the proposed evaluator, but in that event, the court may permit the party seeking the evaluation to propose one or more other evaluators.

(b) An order for an evaluation shall fix the time, place, conditions, and scope of the evaluation and shall designate the evaluator. A party or person shall not be required to travel an unreasonable distance for the evaluation.

(c) The person requesting an evaluator shall pay the fee for the evaluation unless otherwise ordered by the court.

(d) Within 21 days after the completion of the evaluation, if the moving party or person intends to call the evaluator as a witness, the evaluator shall prepare and mail or deliver to the attorneys of record duplicate originals of the written evaluation. The evaluation shall set forth the evaluator’s findings, the results of all tests administered, and the evaluator’s conclusions and recommendations.

If the written evaluation is not delivered or mailed to the attorneys within 21 days or within any extensions or modifications granted by the court, the written evaluation and the evaluator’s testimony, conclusions, and recommendations may not be received into evidence.

(e) The person calling an evaluator to testify at trial shall disclose the evaluator as an opinion witness in accordance with the Supreme Court Rules.

(f) Subject to compliance with the Supreme Court Rules, nothing in this Section bars a person who did not request the evaluation from calling the evaluator as a witness. In that case, however, that person shall pay the evaluator’s fee for testifying unless otherwise ordered by the court.

Illinois child custody cases are complex. I strongly urge you to find a child custody lawyer in order to increase your chances of winning custody.