Custody Hearings

750 ILCS 5/606

Custody proceedings shall receive priority in being set for hearing.
The court may tax as costs the payment of necessary travel and other expenses incurred by any person whose presence at the hearing the court deems necessary to determine the best interest of the child.
The court, without a jury, shall determine questions of law and fact.  If a public hearing would be detrimental to the child’s best interest, the court may exclude the public from a custody hearing.
The may seal the record of any interview, report, investigation or testimony if it feels that the child’ welfare needs protection. 

Previous statements of a child relating to allegations of abuse or neglect within the meaning of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or within the meaning of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987, shall be admissible in evidence in a hearing concerning custody.  No such statement, if uncorroborated and not subject to cross examination shall be sufficient in itself to support a finding of abuse or neglect.

For additional information see Joint Custody - Parental Powers Back to the Chicago Child Custody Lawyer home page