Pa415

Illinois Parenting Plan Requirements

Under the Illinois Supreme Court Rule 923 (2) and (3) states:

(2) Custody and Parenting Plan. The parents shall provide the court with an agreed order regarding custody and an agreed parenting plan, if there is an agreement;

(3) Mediation. If there is no agreement regarding custody or a parenting plan or both, the court shall schedule the matter for mediation in accordance with Rule 905(b) and shall advise each parent of the responsibilities imposed upon them by the pertinent local court rules.

(b) A full case management conference shall be held not later than 30 days after mediation has been completed. In addition to other matters the court may choose to address at the conference, and if the court has not appointed counsel previously, the court shall address whether to appoint an attorney for the child or a guardian ad litem or a child representative in accordance with section 506 of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (750 ILCS 5/506).

From my personal experience; the parenting plan is conducted in the mediation session. The court in our area gives the couple three 1 hour sessions to decide one the parenting plan. If more is requested by the meditator then it is sometimes passed. If the couple doesn’t come with an agreement then it goes to court for the judge to decide that is best. From what is explained in the Special Supreme Court Committee on Child Custody Issues there is an initial case management conference that is required within 90 days after service of a petition or complaint is obtained from the dissolution or marriage or the child custody case. This typically happens during in the court room with a motion to either go further with the mediation session or set an agreed parenting plan. Each county has different guidelines requiring visitation; but still have to comply with circuit court rules. In my county which is Will County, Illinois, we are required to go through 3 mediation sessions. If...