How Can I Protect My Parental Rights as a Father in Illinois?

 Posted on October 17, 2023 in Family Law Blog

At one time, when a couple got a divorce, it was assumed that the mother would receive most parental responsibilities. Each state has the authority to decide on its relevant laws but one thing is for sure: it is no longer assumed that a mother will automatically win more benefits and power than a father in a divorce proceeding. There are many factors taken into account and the court decides on a case-by-case basis. If you are a father and are concerned that your spouse might be granted most if not all of the parental responsibilities over your child in a divorce settlement, an experienced Lombard, IL divorce attorney can answer your questions about this sensitive issue.

Issues of Child Custody Have Evolved Over Time

It wasn’t that long ago that American society in general maintained some outdated ideas of how children should be raised. Fathers were generally expected to go out, develop a career, and earn money, and therefore not need to have many responsibilities once they came home after a long day of work. Mothers were generally expected to stay home, put their careers to the side, and manage all the family and household needs, and therefore they were considered deserving of an equal share of the marital income without working.

These gender roles that have been projected throughout history on parents no longer hold the weight they once did, for a couple of reasons:

• First, it would appear that more families are considered two-income households than used to be. In most households than in the past, both parents are bringing financial and parenting value to the table. As gender equality has been advocated and brought to center stage, more professional opportunities are being offered to females.

• As women hold more demanding and higher-paid jobs, their spouses have less pressure to earn the bulk of the money. As a result, it is slowly becoming more common to see stay-at-home dads than ever before. At the very least it has become much more common to see fathers who are more involved in their child’s upbringing than fathers typically used to be.

As the stereotypical gender roles that used to be the norm in parenting are slowly evolving, the old assumptions of how custody cases and other issues in a divorce would be decided are no longer valid. Fathers can come out of a divorce with a parenting plan they can feel comfortable with.

Call a Dupage County, IL Father’s Rights Lawyer Today

Divorce can be stressful enough. Why not let an experienced Wheaton, IL divorce attorney help you sort through the confusion and discuss your parental options with you? Please call A. Traub & Associates at 630-426-0196 so we can begin planning your post-divorce parental future.