Anyone who has experienced it can confirm that parenting after a divorce or separation can be extremely challenging. The difficulties are often magnified for the parent who has not been granted primary physical custody of the child. If you are a non-custodial parent, you deserve to have a relationship with your child. Perhaps even more importantly, your child deserves a relationship with you, as family and child experts generally agree that the active participation of both parents in a child's life can a long-lasting positive impact.

Visitation Laws in Illinois

The Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act provides that a parent who was not granted custody of their child “is entitled to reasonable visitation rights.” What constitutes “reasonable,” however, will depend upon the individual circumstances of each family's situation and the child's best interests. In some cases, the parents, with guidance from the court, may develop a relative strict schedule for visitation, while in others, the parents utilize a more flexible, informal agreement. Regardless of the structure in place, you, as the non-custodial parent have the right to spend time with your child.