How is parenting time different from decision-making?
Section 602.7 addresses parenting time, and section 602.5 addresses significant decision-making responsibilities. A schedule does not automatically establish who makes major education, health, religious, or extracurricular decisions. Parents should consider both subjects rather than relying on an informal label such as joint custody.
Arrangements can be tailored to the family under the statutory standards. Neither a preferred label nor a parent’s request alone determines the result. Provide specific information about the child’s needs, the parents’ involvement, and practical circumstances instead of treating the case as a contest over terminology.
What does the court consider for the child?
The governing focus is the child’s best interests under the applicable statutory factors. Relevant information may include the child’s needs, relationships, adjustment, each parent’s circumstances, and safety concerns. No generic schedule can substitute for examining the particular family.
Describe concrete routines: school transportation, medical care, activities, and how transitions work. Where abuse, neglect, or other safety issues are present, raise them promptly and discuss appropriate protections. Cooperation is not a reason to overlook risk, and an ordinary scheduling template may not fit a family with safety concerns.
What should go into a parenting plan?
Section 602.10 generally requires a proposed parenting plan within 120 days after service or filing an appearance, subject to applicable extensions or exceptions. Ask how that requirement applies in your case. A plan should be detailed enough to guide daily decisions without creating unnecessary conflict over small changes.
- Address regular schedules, holidays, school breaks, and exchanges.
- Explain communication about the child and access to relevant information.
- Specify significant decision-making responsibilities.
- Consider transportation and a workable process for resolving disagreements.
How do support and later changes fit in?
Child support is a separate legal issue under section 505 and uses an income-shares model. Parenting arrangements may affect the analysis, but support should not be treated as payment for access to the child. Do not unilaterally trade missed payments for withheld parenting time.
If a plan later becomes impractical, review the existing order and obtain advice about the applicable modification standards. An informal change may not replace the court order. Keep child-focused records of significant problems, and avoid involving the child in adult negotiations. This guide provides a starting point, not a prediction about the parenting arrangement a court would order for your family.
Frequently asked questions
+Does Illinois automatically require equal parenting time?
A schedule must be evaluated under the child’s best interests and applicable law. Do not assume a particular time division follows automatically from the parents’ marital status or preferred labels.
+Can parents submit different proposed plans?
Parents may have different proposals when agreement is incomplete. Follow section 602.10 and court instructions, identifying settled points and unresolved issues clearly.
+Can a child decide the entire schedule?
A child’s wishes may be relevant under the governing standards, but the child does not simply replace the court’s best-interests analysis. Avoid pressuring the child to choose sides.
Sources
General information about Illinois law, not legal advice for your situation. Laws and local court practices change; confirm current requirements with the court or an attorney.