Featuring changes in Illinois Divorce Law, Illinois School Reform, 
and Clarifications about Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and Dyscalculia

News & Updates from
The Child and Family Law Center
October, 2015
Changes in Illinois Divorce Law

On January 1, 2016, many new changes to the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act as well as the Parentage Act will be put in place. Senate Bill 57 and House Bill 1531 will greatly alter the divorce process in the state as it relates to custody, property, and perhaps most importantly, an individual's grounds for divorce. among other items.
  • Couples who are in agreement about divorce can now proceed immediately without the 6 month waiting period. Divorcing couples who don't agree to a six month waiting period, no longer have a 2 year wait for divorce.
Child Custody:
  • The emphasis will be on parental responsibility. The word custody will be eliminated from the statue.
  • While parents can still agree to share decisions, the court or the parties can agree that the responsibility for specific decisions will be granted to the parent who make those decisions.

Relocation:

  • Custodial parents in the following counties can relocate up to 25 miles without court approval: Cook, Du Page, Lake, Kane, McHenry and Will.
  • Those in other counties may move up to 50 miles away without court permission.
  • Any move of 25 miles of less can be across the state line without leave of the court; Illinois courts retain jurisdiction over custody issues.
Illinois School Discipline Reform Law: Effective
September 15, 2016

Governor Rauner signed into law dramatic reforms in school discipline. The intent of the law is to use suspensions and expulsions as a last resort.
Illinois has one of the widest disparities between black and white students in the country, according to the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. In the 2012-2013 school year, Chicago Public Schools issued 32 out of school suspensions for every 100 black students, compared to just 5 for every white students. (Voices of Youth in Chicago Education).
Hopefully, the law will have the effect of excluding fewer students from schools.
Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, and Dyscalculia in IEP's

In the past several years, I have attended IEP's where the special education director, school psychologist, or even the district's attorney have stopped any reference to dyslexia. On two occasions, the parents were told that the district doesn't recognize dyslexia as a disability suggesting that it was a quaint term that was no longer in vogue or worse, that it was not a valid description that can be put into an IEP. On October 23, 2015, the Office of Special Education Programs, (OSEP) clarified the use of these terms in a Dear Colleague letter. That letter encourages states to remind their districts to use the terms in IEP meetings, at IEP's and in evaluations relied upon to determine eligibility for special education.

The letter also encourages:
  • States and districts "to consider situations where it would be appropriate to use the terms to address the child's unique identified needs."
  • States to review their policies, procedures and practices to ensure that they don't prohibit the use of the terms.
  • States to remind their districts of the importance of addressing the unique educational needs of children with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia.
Click to read the OSEP letter
Upcoming Events

Micki Moran, JD and Rachel Loftin, PhD to present:

Sexuality Education of Students with Autism and the Law

2015 Nonpublic Conference: 
Supporting Special Education Programs Across All School Settings

November 12, 2015
Oak Lawn, IL
About Us

Founded by Micki Moran, in 1995, 
The Child & Family Law Center is a unique legal practice that specializes in providing services to families and children in the areas of Special Education, IEP Consultation, Guardianship, Juvenile Law, Criminal Law, Mental Health Law, DCFS, Divorce and Parental Responsibility, Parenting Agreements, and Mediation.

We provide representation in Cook, Lake, McHenry, DuPage, Kane and Will Counties.

Please call our office to schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys in Highland Park and Lisle, IL.
Micki Moran 
The Child & Family Law Center of the North Shore, Ltd. 
1950 Sheridan Road, Suite 201
Highland Park, IL 60035
Phone: 847-926-0101, Fax: 847-926-8500
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