New Visitation Law for Military Parents-House Bill 1589-Grandparent Visitation Opportunities Increased

Posted on December 6, 2011 by mgoldberg

The Illinois Legislature has sent HB 1589 for the Governor’s signature.  That Bill strengthens the visitation rights of parents who are serving in the US Military.  First of all, the new amendments to the Illinois Marriage and dissolution of Marriage Act facilitate and expedite hearings on custody and visitation matters for service members who are deployed or are about to be deployed.  It also calls for substitute visitation during the period of the parent’s deployment with the child’s grandparents or other close relative or friend, if said substitute visitation would be in the child’s best interest.  Finally, the Bill requires the court to permit a deployed parent who is unavailable to appear for a custody or visitation proceeding to testify by telephone, audio-visual means or other electronic means.  This new law will lead to increased instances of grandparents getting visitation with their grandchildren.