Creating a parenting plan is an essential part of the divorce process for parents in Illinois. A parenting plan outlines how you and your ex-spouse will share parental responsibilities and parenting time. However, creating a parenting plan can be difficult, and there are mistakes that you should avoid making to ensure the best outcome for your children and family. As you embark on creating your parenting plan, consult with an experienced family law attorney, who will help ensure you complete your parenting plan successfully.

Mistakes to Avoid Making

Here are some common mistakes to avoid making when creating your parenting plan in Illinois, including:

• Not considering the child’s best interests – When creating a parenting plan, the child’s best interests should be the primary consideration. This means considering the child’s age, health, education, and emotional needs. Ensure that your parenting plan is designed to meet your child’s needs, not just yours.
• Failing to be specific – Your parenting plan should be specific and detailed. This means outlining the particular days and times each parent will have parenting time and how holidays, vacations, and special occasions will be shared—the more specific the parenting plan, the less room for ambiguity and conflict.
• Missing deadlines - In Illinois, the parenting plan must be filed to the court within 120 days after the divorce petition has been filed with the court. Both parents must also sign the plan.
• Not considering logistics – Logistics are essential when creating a parenting plan. You should take into account the location of each parent’s residence, the child’s school, and any extracurricular activities. Your parenting plan should be designed to minimize disruptions to your child’s daily routine.
• Not including contingencies – Your parenting plan should include contingencies for unexpected events, such as illness, travel, or changes in work schedules. This will help ensure that your parenting plan remains flexible and can adapt to changing circumstances.
• Failing to communicate – Effective communication is essential when creating a parenting plan. Both parents should be open and honest about their concerns and needs. It is also important to listen to the other parent’s perspective and be willing to compromise.
• Not seeking professional advice – Creating a parenting plan can be complex, and it is important to seek professional advice. An experienced family law attorney can help you navigate the legal system and ensure that your parenting plan meets the legal requirements of Illinois.

Contact a Wheaton, IL Family Law Attorney

Contact the DuPage County family law lawyers with Andrew Cores Family Law Group for additional information. Call 630-871-1002 for a free consultation.

In Illinois, a parenting plan outlines the rights and responsibilities of each parent regarding the child's upbringing. It is a legally binding document that helps parents navigate their relationship with their children after a divorce or separation. However, sometimes the circumstances of the parents and the child change, making it necessary to modify the parenting plan. If you ever need to update your parenting plan, contact a parenting plan attorney to ensure your updated circumstances can be accurately reflected in an updated parenting plan.

Indicative Signs You Need to Update Your Parenting Plan

Change in living arrangements – If one parent moves to a different state, city, or even a new neighborhood, it can disrupt the current parenting plan. The distance between the parents' homes may make it challenging to adhere to the parenting time schedule, and the child's education and extracurricular activities may also be affected.

• Change in work schedule – If one or both parents' work schedules change, it can affect their ability to spend time with the child. For example, if one parent starts working night shifts, they may be unable to pick up or drop off the child at school or attend extracurricular activities.
• Change in the child's needs – As a child grows, their needs and interests may change. For example, a child who once enjoyed spending time with one parent may now prefer spending time with the other parent.
• Change in parent's health – If one parent's health deteriorates, they may be unable to fulfill their parenting responsibilities as per the existing plan. For example, if one parent becomes physically disabled, they may not be able to pick up or drop off their child at school or bring them to after-school activities.
• Change in parent's financial standing – If one parent experiences a significant change in their financial situation, it can affect their ability to provide for the child. For example, if a parent gets laid off, they may not be able to pay child support or provide the child with the same standard of living.

Contact a DuPage County Child Custody Attorney

Ultimately, a parenting plan is a crucial document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of each parent after a divorce. However, circumstances may arise that require the plan to be updated. If you ever find yourself in this situation, contact the experienced Wheaton, IL child custody lawyers with Andrew Cores Family Law Group. Call 630-871-1002 for a free consultation.

Making sure you and your ex-partner create a parenting plan that safeguards your child's best interests is crucial if you are going through a divorce process or terminating a long-term relationship. The choices you make throughout this challenging time will have an ongoing effect on your children.

Parenting agreements are, in most cases, better for all parties involved when the agreements are developed outside of court. However, not all divorces are straightforward, and sometimes the parties cannot agree on who will raise the children after the divorce. If this is the case, they frequently find it difficult to reach a custody arrangement either independently or via mediation. The decision about the custody arrangement may thereafter be made by the family court system as part of the couple's divorce.

What is a Parenting Agreement?

A parenting agreement is a written document that specifies how choices about a child will be made, as well as how parents will share their parenting time in a schedule. All parents of children under age 18 who are divorced, separated, or even who were never married must create a court-enforceable parenting agreement. 

Stability is important to children and few events are as destabilizing as a divorce that requires children to begin splitting their time between parents in different Illinois households. In addition to the trauma of their parents’ separation, children must also adapt to two new households when both parents move out of the marital home. This can result in complex logistical challenges for the children, which can then manifest in concerning behavioral challenges for the parents. 

These challenges are often exacerbated at the junction between the two households as parents hand off the children to each other during parenting time changeovers. Here are four ways to minimize the stress of these changeovers for children and make the process more manageable for adults. 

Let The Kids Know What to Expect

A new situation feels more stable when you know what should happen. Kids managing complex schedules often do quite well when they know what to anticipate ahead of time. Having a calendar in a public area of the house that clearly illustrates the children’s schedule can help them set reasonable expectations and avoid unpleasant surprises. Giving regular reminders can help as well. 

Although many Illinois parents get divorced because they dislike their spouse, the unfortunate truth is if you share minor children, your relationship with your spouse does not end after divorce. Parenting is a never-ending job and once you are divorced, your parenting obligations are codified in a court-ordered parenting agreement which you must then abide by in cooperation with your ex.

But focusing on the stress that you feel when you have to deal with your ex during childcare exchanges is a surefire way to lose out on the special moments you can share with your kids during parenting time. Kids need the love and support of both parents, and if you can maintain your focus on your children, you are likely to benefit as well. Here are four tips for making the most of your parenting time after your Illinois divorce.

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Kids are very sensitive to their parents’ moods and attitudes. If they feel like you are angry or upset every time they come to visit, they may believe it is their fault - even if your feelings have nothing to do with them. If your relationship with your spouse tends to degenerate quickly into conflict, limit interaction as much as possible so you can focus on showing your kids how excited and happy you are to be with them.