Must I Create a Parenting Plan in My Illinois Divorce?

 Posted on January 24, 2024 in Child Custody

There are many factors to consider as you start to pursue a divorce from your spouse. Suppose you share a child with your partner. In that case, you will need to discuss the topic of child custody and parental responsibilities. Child custody can be a complex issue and highly contested, which is why creating a parenting plan with your spouse outside of court can help make this process easier. An experienced Illinois child custody lawyer can help you with this.

What Is a Parenting Plan?

A parenting plan is a plan that both spouses come up with during the divorce process that outlines essential issues such as primary or shared custody, how time is divided between parents, and which parent makes important decisions for the shared child.

A parent needs to make important decisions, including medical or healthcare decisions, education decisions, religious choices, and extracurricular activities. Parents can decide if they wish to share these decisions or divide these responsibilities.

Having a parenting plan during your divorce can help make child custody arrangements smoother and save you time down the road as your divorce progresses. It is not required by law to make a parenting plan before your divorce, but it is encouraged as a good idea for you and your spouse.

What if I Cannot Come To an Agreement With My Spouse?

When it comes to dealing with child custody issues during divorce, it can often be difficult to come to an agreement with your spouse about the time that each parent spends with their child. Deciding on child support agreements may also be a challenging issue.

If you cannot come to an agreement with your spouse, the courts will make decisions that put your child’s best interests first. This is stated in Illinois law regarding the Allocation of Parental Responsibilities. It is important to note that this act does not guarantee that each parent will be involved equally or designated specific responsibilities – only choices that best benefit the shared child will be made.

Contact a St. Charles, IL Child Custody Lawyer

Creating a parenting plan and working with your spouse to figure out child custody arrangements may work sometimes, or you may end up dealing with a child custody dispute. No matter the specific situation of your divorce and child custody arrangements, a seasoned Kane County, IL child custody attorney can help you explore your options. Contact Weiler & Associates, Inc. at 630-331-9110 for a consultation.