Parenting Plan Essentials | Mitchell Highlander, LLC

A parenting plan is the court order that determines all issues involving your children. Under Illinois law, there are certain items that must be included in your parenting plan.

First, your parenting plan must state which parent will make decisions for your child in the following areas: education, medical, extracurricular activities, and religion. These decisions can be made by one parent or both parents. They can also be divided between the parents. For example, one parent can make decisions for education and medical, and the other parent can make decisions for extracurricular activities and religion.

Second, your parenting plan must include a parenting time schedule. This should include regular parenting time (weekdays and weekends), holiday parenting time, and summer parenting time. Be as specific as possible with this schedule and make sure to include start and times.

Your parenting plan must also include the following:

A mediation provision
Access to the child’s records
Which parent has the majority of parenting time
The child’s address for school purposes
Each parent’s home and work contact information
Notice requirements for change of address
Provisions regarding notice to the other parent regarding emergencies, travel, and decisions for the child
Responsibility for transportation of the child for parenting time
Provisions for communication with the child
Provisions for future relocation
Provisions for future modifications of the parenting plan
Provisions for right of first refusal, if desired

If you need help preparing a parenting plan, an experienced family law attorney can assist you. If your case is in Madison, St. Clair, or Bond Counties, Mitchell Highlander, LLC is happy to help you prepare a parenting plan that is best for you and your child.