Illinois Right of First Refusal

 Posted on November 17, 2014 in Divorce

According to Illinois HB 2992, parents who share joint custody of their children must offer their ex-spouse the opportunity to care for the couple’s children temporarily before seeking third-party care for any period more than four hours. As long as the co-parent lives within a reasonable distance, they must be offered the opportunity to provide care before a babysitter can be hired and before the child can be left with grandparents or at a daycare facility.

This new clause is commonly known as "right of first refusal," and may lead to a significant change in families where the custodial parent usually leaves a child with grandparents or babysitters while running errands or a parent’s night out. They will now be required to notify their ex-spouse of their plans and give their co-parent the opportunity to care for the child during that time instead. An exception may be made in emergency cases. If the co-parent does choose to accept the additional time, they will be responsible for providing any transportation that may be required, except in cases where a different arrangement is agreed upon between both parties.

If you are a co-parent sharing joint custody and have questions about how this may impact current custody agreements or child care arrangements, we can help. Contact an experienced Arlington Heights family law attorney at A. Traub & Associates today for a consultation. Our qualified team of attorneys understand the importance of communication in child custody issues and will work diligently to reach a clear and concise resolution to your situation.