SPONSORED CONTENT CRAIN’S CUSTOM MEDIA ROUNDTABLE SPOTLIGHT FAMILY LAW: BALANCING THE ROLES OF PROVIDER AND PARENT >> Even in the era of two-income families, it’s not uncommon to have one parent serve as the primary provider while the other handles the majority of child-related logistics. In a divorce involving children, however, that work ethic is often weaponized against the primary provider in an effort to deny parenting time and decision-making authority regarding the children. Family law litigator Jay P. Dahlin has secured parenting rights for small business owners and executives, including both fathers and mothers, worldwide. How does a providing Dahlin: I advise clients to pick parenting—joint decision-making parent’s work schedule come their roles based on the level of and shared parenting time. under review in a divorce? involvement they can balance with their careers. Then commit While previously a working Dahlin: There are only so to those roles, understanding parent needed to prove s/he many hours in a week. If a that work comes second during could handle the role as co- providing parent dedicates those windows. parent, now the presumption those hours to work, that rests in favor of co-parenting. parent may not be available A working parent does not It’s the other parent’s burden to attend school conferences, need to attend every doctor’s to prove that co-parenting doctor’s appointments or appointment or take the kids cannot work. basketball games. They’re hard to school every morning. It’s at work instead of helping with more important to be consistent Is co-parenting appropriate JAY P. DAHLIN homework or packing lunches. and reliable in the level of for everyone? Partner involvement. Schiller DuCanto & Fleck, LLP In the divorce, that dynamic Dahlin: Not necessarily. I advise >>jdahlin@sdflaw.com is used against the parent to It’s far better to say you won’t clients that maintaining physical >>312-609-5501 allege a lack of involvement attend a basketball game and proximity in their respective in the child’s daily life and then show up, rather than say homes and open lines of undermine parenting claims. you’ll be there and not make it. communication regarding the JAY P. DAHLIN is a children are keys to developing partner and trial attorney How do courts handle What role can technology play and maintaining effective at Schiller DuCanto & allegations that parents are in maintaining a work/life co-parenting. Fleck, LLP, where he uninvolved or work too much? balance? litigates and consults Do you have any other advice on matters involving Dahlin: The statute obligates Dahlin: Technology can be a for hard-working parents? courts to consider the amount great tool for staying in touch clients’ financial and of time each parent spent and involved. You can maintain Dahlin: Children need to know parental interests. His performing caretaking functions a shared family calendar and they’re more important than experience includes for the children in the 24 months docket every school event, their parents’ careers. multi-jurisdictional and prior to the divorce filing. activity and appointment. international support, You can schedule calls during Too often I meet parents who valuation, custody and While that factor must be drive times and work late or are highly successful in their enforcement matters. considered, I advise my clients remotely when necessary to careers and provide their He frequently speaks that their involvement with allow an hour out of a workday children with multimillion-dollar and writes about children during the course of to attend a child’s event. You homes, fantastic educations and the application of the divorce carries significantly can call in to parent/teacher all the luxuries life can afford. international treaties more weight than what conferences if you can’t Nonetheless, they may receive to domestic relations happened before the divorce attend in person, and only resentment and emotional cases, and has been was filed. Courts want to see FaceTime or text the children distance from the children when recognized by the Law involved parents acting in real to say goodnight if you’re the divorce is filed. Bulletin Publishing Co., time, under the microscope. working late. Illinois Super Lawyers and It doesn’t have to be that way. Leading Lawyer. He is a Judges are generally willing to Are any trends in the law We can be great providers father of two. accept a new status quo brought affecting providing parents’ and great parents if we take about by the dissolution of the rights? time to connect with our single-household dynamic. children, go to a soccer game, Dahlin: The days of the weekend or make it home for a family How can clients balance and one-dinner visitation dinner a few times a week. The their dual roles as financial schedule are over. Today, return on that investment is provider and parent? the courts trend toward co- immeasurable.