Defending the Highlands
Scotland’s Must-See Castles
From the heights of Castle Hill to the idyllic waters of Loch Duich, the historic castles of Scotland stun tourists and history enthusiasts alike. Today, these castles are well-maintained and ready to receive visitors from around the world. If you want to explore the beauty of the highlands from the rocky ramparts of Scotland’s greatest castles, these are three landmarks you need to visit. EDINBURGH CASTLE Located amidst Edinburgh’s Old Town — a World Heritage Site — the daunting and long-standing Edinburgh Castle on Castle Hill is a bulwark that has defended the Scottish capital for nearly a millennium. The military still uses parts of the formidable ramparts, but the rest serves as a can’t-miss tourist destination. The castle also houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland, known as the Honours, and famed cannons, like Mons Meg, one of the grandest pieces of medieval artillery ever constructed and given to King James II in 1457 A.D. DUNNOTTAR CASTLE Dunnottar Castle is located on the northeastern coast of Scotland and is surrounded on three sides by the waters of the North Sea. There is evidence that
ancient Picts lived in the area long before a monastery was consecrated on the grounds in 1276 A.D. In 1392, Sir William Keith seized the holy site’s strategic location by building its first stone fortification, The Keep. An even more unorthodox move came in 1593, when George Keith, the 5th Earl Marischal, built The Lion’s Den at Dunnottar Castle to house his pet lion. EILEAN DONAN CASTLE There is a reason Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most photographed castles in the world! Situated on a tiny island at the mouth of Loch Duich, this formidable fortress began as a monastery in 634 A.D. before being converted to a fortress in the 12th century to protect the area from Viking raids. Now administered by the Conchra Charitable Trust, this castle houses rare artifacts, such as a sword rumored to be from the famed battle of Culloden in 1745.
As of 2016, with the enactment of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, courts in our state no longer award “custody” or “visitation.” Instead, courts allocate “parental responsibilities,” formerly known as custody, and “parenting time,” formerly known as visitation. While the change seems small, it has large ramifications for parents going through a divorce. Parents must submit a parenting plan proposal, either jointly or separately, to the court. If the parents cannot agree on a proposed plan, or if the court determines the plan is not in the child’s best interests, the judge will instead allocate parental responsibilities and parenting time. If this happens, here is what you need to know about how the court makes those decisions. PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES Some noteworthy elements the judge will need to assess when it comes to the allocation of parental responsibilities, per 750 ILCS 5/600, include: When Parenting Plans Break Down
Understanding Parental Responsibilities and Parenting Time
managing their sleep schedule, and caring for them when they are sick or injured Who educates them, helps them learn motor and language skills, and develops their self-confidence
•
•
Who provides moral and ethical guidance for a child
PARENTING TIME When it comes to assigning parenting time, 750 ILCS 5/602.7 outlines many factors the court takes into consideration, but here are some of the most significant you should be aware of:
•
Whether one of the parents is a convicted sex offender or lives with one
•
The wishes of the child, taking into account the child’s maturity and ability to express preferences as to parenting time The wishes of each parent seeking parenting time Any prior agreement or course of conduct between the parents relating to caretaking functions with respect to the child The mental and physical health of all individuals involved Whether the child, or other members of the child’s household, have been abused
•
The willingness and ability of each parent to place the needs of the child ahead of their own And most importantly, the child’s needs
•
•
•
While both parents should come to a written agreement when it comes to a Parenting Plan in Illinois, that is not always possible. If that is the case, you are going to want to be familiar with the relevant statutes and have our excellent legal counsel on your side.
•
•
Who carries out caretaking functions, including satisfying nutritional needs,
•
2 — rbbfirm.com
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator