What Should Be Included in an Illinois Parenting Plan?

 Posted on May 24, 2022 in Uncategorized

During a divorce involving minor children, significant decisions always surround the division of rights and responsibilities of each of the parents in the children’s lives. Illinois law requires a comprehensive parenting plan during a divorce to clearly describe the detailed responsibilities of each parent. An experienced attorney can help you negotiate a parenting plan that serves your children's best interests while also meeting your needs.

Components of a Parenting Plan

Here are components that should be included in a parenting plan. While the first two are the most important, all parts of the plan are required by law and can help remove subjectivity over future decisions the parents may face.

• Parenting time schedule – This describes how the children’s time with each parent will be divided and the specific plan for days or weeks spent at each home.

• Allocation of decision-making responsibilities – This includes a plan for how the parents will make decisions regarding the children’s education, health and medical needs, religion, and extracurricular activities.

• Appropriate communication guidelines between the children and the parent during the other’s scheduled parenting time

• How to handle any future changes to parenting time or parental responsibilities

• Each parent’s right to access the children’s records, including medical, dental, psychological, school, and child care

• The children’s home address and who the custodial parent is for purposes of determining school enrollment

• The home and work address and home and work phone number for each parent

• Minimum notification requirements before either parent moves their residence

• A requirement that the other parent must be notified in the event of an emergency, health care issue, travel plans, and other issues involving the children

• A transportation plan for the children between the parent’s homes

• A plan giving the other parent the right of first refusal for child care when the other parent is scheduled to have parenting time

Other provisions can be added to the parenting plan if the parents agree they are needed and handle special or unique circumstances. The parents must agree to the plan within 120 days of the allocation of parental responsibilities petition. If the parents cannot agree, the judge may consider plans from both parents and determine a final plan which serves the children’s best interests.

Trust a Chicago Child Custody Attorney

At The Law Office of George J. Skuros, we have the experience to help you develop a parenting plan that will meet both your needs and the needs of your children. Call our office at 312-884-1222 to set up your free initial consultation. Our Cook County divorce lawyers are ready to provide you guidance through this challenging time so that you can begin to build a brighter future.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=075000050K602.10