Modifying Child Custody & Parenting Plans in Chicagoo
When Your Chicago Parenting Plan No Longer Works for Your Family
The Parenting Plan (or Allocation Judgment) you agreed to for a toddler will almost certainly not work for a teenager.
As children grow, their needs evolve. As parents' lives change, with new jobs or new relationships, the old schedule can become impractical or even harmful.
When your current custody or parenting time schedule is no longer serving your child's best interests, you can petition the Cook County court for a modification. Attorney Schylon Lane, founder of The Elite Law Group, provides compassionate, one-on-one advocacy for these sensitive and personal cases.
The Legal Standard: "Best Interest of the Child"
Unlike financial matters, modifying a parenting plan is not about what is "fair" to the parents. The court's only concern is the "best interest of the child."
To get a modification, you must prove two things:
There has been a "substantial change in circumstances" since the last order was entered.
The modification you are proposing is necessary to serve the child's best interest.
Common Reasons to Modify a Chicago Parenting Plan
Schylon Lane represents Chicago parents in a wide range of modification cases. Common reasons include:
A Parent's New Work Schedule: A new job that involves a night shift or heavy travel may make the current schedule impossible.
The Child's Evolving Needs: A teenager's desire to participate in sports that conflict with the schedule, or a child's academic struggles requiring a different weekday routine.
A Parent's Failure to Co-Parent: One parent may be consistently denying parenting time or failing to communicate on key decisions, forcing a need for a more structured, "sole" allocation.
A Parent's Relocation: If a parent is moving (even to a new Chicago neighborhood) that makes the old plan unworkable, a modification is required.
Endangerment: This is the most urgent reason. If one parent has developed a substance abuse problem, is living in an unsafe environment, or is exposing the child to danger, an emergency modification is necessary.
The 2-Year Rule in Illinois
Illinois law restricts major custody modifications (like changing the child's primary residential parent) within two years of the original order. A judge will not hear such a request unless you can prove the child is in serious physical, mental, or emotional danger.
As a solo practitioner, Schylon Lane gives your case the personal attention it deserves. She understands the high-stakes nature of these disputes and is skilled at working with a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to investigate and present the strongest possible case for your child's well-being.