Many parents wonder whether they can secure more parenting time with their children if the other parent is not planning to be with the children during their scheduled parenting time. It may be that the other parent is traveling for work and plans to hire a live in nanny to care for the children in their absence or that the other parent plans to hire a sitter for an evening on the town.
When the other parent gets wind of the fact the children are spending their time with a sitter instead of the other parent, they may feel that it makes more sense for them to have that time with the children even if it is not in the parenting schedule. Situations such as these underscore the importance of including a first right of refusal provision in any Illinois parenting plan.
It is not uncommon for parents to deviate form a parenting schedule once in a while. The first right of refusal gives a mom or dad the opportunity to care for children when the other parent cannot during their designated time. The first right of refusal allows the other parent to option to accept or refuse the extra time with the kids before the other parent secures third party child care, often serving the best interests of the children who get to spend more time with their parents overall. Certainly, sometimes a parent is unable to step in or the logistics may just be too difficult, so parents should work together to decide how and when the first right of refusal will apply ahead of time as part of their parenting plan.
First Right of Refusal in an Illinois Parenting Plan Lawyer
The first right of refusal is one of many issues that divorcing parents must consider when deciding on a parenting plan. When you have questions regarding an Illinois parenting plan for child custody and visitation, contact the Libertyville, Illinois Law Offices of Ronald L. Bell & Associates for immediate assistance today at 847-495-6000.