What Will a Parenting Plan Address in an Illinois Divorce?

 Posted on January 14, 2022 in Divorce / Family Law

Getting a divorce can be difficult for anyone, but these situations can become much more complex for couples who have children. In addition to separating their lives from each other, parents will need to make decisions about how they will share in the responsibilities of raising their kids, and they will also need to create schedules detailing when children will live in each parent’s home or spend time with them. Coming to an agreement on these issues is not easy, especially when a couple’s relationship has broken down to the point where they have chosen to end their marriage. However, whether a divorce is amicable or contested, it is often best for parents to do everything they can to work together and determine how they can put their children first. This will allow them to create a parenting plan that will provide them with a full understanding of how child-related matters will be handled going forward.

What Is Included in a Parenting Plan?

Illinois law states that the divorce decree of a married couple who share children will need to include a document known as a parenting plan. This agreement will fully detail how the parents will share in the allocation of parental responsibilities, including each parent’s authority to make decisions about children’s education, healthcare, religion, and extracurricular activities. The parenting plan will also include a parenting time schedule that determines when children will stay in each parent’s home or spend time with a parent. In addition to an ongoing, daily schedule, the parenting plan will also specify how parents will divide holidays and vacations, and it will also detail transportation arrangements for children and rules about when and how a parent can communicate with children during the other parent’s parenting time.

A parenting plan may also include:

• Provisions for mediation in cases where either parent wishes to make modifications to the allocation of parental responsibilities or parenting time.
• Statements that each parent will be able to access important child-related information, including educational or medical records.
• Requirements for parents to notify each other at least 60 days before changing their residence, including the address of the new residence and the date they will be moving.
• Requirements for parents to notify each other about medical emergencies, health care issues, or travel plans involving children.
• The right of first refusal, which may require a parent who will be unavailable during a scheduled period of parenting time to contact the other parent and offer them the opportunity to take the children before other arrangements for childcare are made.

While there are certain minimal requirements for what will need to be included in a parenting plan, parents can work together during the divorce process to craft an agreement that will meet the unique needs of their children and their family. By doing so, they can establish a new relationship that will allow them to continue to work together to provide for their children’s best interests and ensure that children will be able to maintain positive relationships with both parents.

Contact Our Geneva Parenting Plan Attorney

Whether you generally agree with your soon-to-be-ex-spouse about how the two of you will handle child-related issues or are experiencing conflict in matters related to child custody, it is important to work with an attorney during the divorce process as you address these matters. With more than 10 years of experience helping clients address these issues, Loire Krajniak Law, LLC can advise you of your rights and work with you to negotiate a parenting plan that will meet your needs both now and in the future. Contact our Kane County child custody lawyer today at 630-448-2406 to set up a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8300000&SeqEnd=10000000