What Must Be Included in an Illinois Parenting Plan?

 Posted on February 04, 2021 in Allocation of Parental Responsibilities

Divorce is challenging regardless of the circumstances; however, a divorce involving children often comes with additional difficulties. If you are a parent who is thinking about filing for divorce, you probably have questions and concerns about child-related issues. In Illinois, divorcing parents are asked to create a “parenting plan” that outlines how they will divide parenting tasks and responsibilities. If the parents cannot agree on the terms of their parenting plan, the court will issue a decision for the parents that is in the best interest of the child.

Allocating Parental Responsibilities

Illinois law no longer uses terms like “child custody,” “visitation,” or “sole custody.” Instead, child custody is separated into two components: parental responsibilities and parenting time. Parental responsibilities describe a parent’s decision-making authority. Parents have the option to share decision-making authority as they see fit. For example, one parent may be in charge of education-related decisions while the other parent handles healthcare. The parents may also decide that one parent will be solely responsible for all of the major decisions about the child’s upbringing.

Parenting Time Schedules and Parental Rights

Parenting time refers to the time a parent spends directly caring for his or her child. Parents must include a parenting time schedule or a detailed method for determining the allocation of parenting time in their parenting plan. When it comes to parenting plans, the more detailed, the better. Do not forget to include parenting time arrangements for holidays, school breaks, and other special occasions.

Parents will also need to address several other issues, including but not limited to:

·        How the child will be transported between the parents’ homes

·        How any future proposed changes to the parenting plan should be handled

·        How the child will communicate with a parent during the other parent’s allotted parenting time

·        What will happen if a parent cannot fulfill his or her assigned parenting time

·        How any future parental relocations should be handled

The parenting plan also describes the rights both parents have. Parents have the right to be informed of child-related emergencies, travel plans, medical concerns, school records, and other important matters. Parents also have the right to be informed about the other parents’ change of residence if the move constitutes a parental “relocation” according to Illinois law. There are over a dozen specific issues you will need to address in your parenting plan.

Contact a Will County Divorce Lawyer

Parents in Illinois must complete a parenting plan and submit it to the court when going through a divorce. If you are a parent who is thinking about ending your marriage, an accomplished Joliet, IL family law attorney from the Law Offices of Tedone & Morton, P.C. can help. Call our office today at 815-733-5350 or 815-666-1285 to schedule your free consultation and learn more.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050K602.10.htm