Features

• A typical visitation schedule allows a noncustodial parent in Illinois to exercise extended visitation at different times during the course of any given year. These extended visitations are coordinated around a child's school schedule and typically take place to coincide with winter, spring and summer breaks. The summer vacation period generally allows for the most significant extended visitation.
  
  

Time Frame

• From the vantage point of Illinois law, extended visitation typically extends from a week to a couple of months (during summer vacation). During an extended visitation that runs beyond a week's time, the custodial parent normally exercises what amounts to visitation. In other words, the custodial parent is entitled to see the child on a visitation schedule while the minor is enjoying a multi-week period with the noncustodial parent.
  
  

Considerations

• Illinois law mandates that the focus of both custody and visitation orders to be on the what is in the best interests of the child. The best interests of the child include a consideration of such factors as the child's age, the pre-existing relationship the child maintained with the noncustodial parent and the noncustodial parent's residential situation.
  
  

Visitation Plan

• Ensuring that the noncustodial parent exercises an extended visitation with his child requires that this type of visitation period be incorporated into a visitation plan and made part of the divorce decree.
  
  

Expert Assistance

• Visitation issues represent some of the most emotionally challenging and legally complex issues faced in a divorce case. Consider engaging the services of an experienced attorney to assist you in developing a visitation plan or in resolving a visitation dispute. The Illinois State Bar Association maintains a directory of attorneys in different practice areas, including specialists in the realm of custody and visitation law. Contact the organization at:
  
  Illinois State Bar Association
  424 S. Second St.
  Springfield, IL 62701-1779
  217-525-1760
  isba.org