JOINT DECISION MAKING ABOUT THE CHILDREN REQUIRES A HIGH LEVEL OF COOPERATION

The parties had one child. In the divorce, the child was to live with Mother, Father had visitation. They shared joint custody. They made joint decisions for the child.

The parents were in and out of court all the time. They kept fighting over custody and visitation issues.

Mother just continued and continued to interfere with Father’s relationship with their daughter.

Mother moved as far away from Father as she could. She filed a Petition to remove the child with her to Texas. Then, she withdrew the Petition.

She made repeated calls to DCFS about claims of abuse by Father. There was no evidence that these actions of abuse ever occurred.

She filed an Order of Protection against Father. She dismissed it after it wound its way through the court.

She made plans that interfered with Father’s visitation. She would not allow Father any extra visitation time.

Father later filed a Petition to be the primary person that the child lived with. The court granted his petition.

The court believed that Mother acted to take away Father’s ability to be a fully involved parent. The Court awarded sole custody to Father to lessen future alienation by Mother.

The Court noted that a high level of cooperation was necessary for joint parenting. It was in the best interest of this child that Father make the decisions on his own.

In Re the Marriage of Debra N., 2012 IL App (1st) 122145-U.

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