What Is a Parenting Plan? | IL Lawyer

 Posted on July 26, 2026 in Family Law

Not long ago, it was common for one parent to keep primary physical custody of a child. The child’s other parent typically received joint legal custody and visitation rights. Nowadays, courts broadly recognize that most children benefit from co-parenting arrangements. This ongoing connection with both parents means that co-parents must have a plan for how they will deal with logistics involving their child. The plan can also address conflicts that may arise between them.

Many parents are unsure what exactly should be included in this plan. A Kane County custody lawyer can explain what makes for a well-thought-out parenting plan in 2026.

Do All Co-Parents Need a Formal Parenting Plan in Illinois?

One of the things Illinois courts require when deciding all custody issues is a formal parenting plan. Once approved or entered by the court, a parenting plan becomes an enforceable court order governing the allocation of parenting time and decision-making responsibilities.  A family’s particular parenting plan can outline the rights and responsibilities of each parent. It can also dictate fallback options for emergencies or if one parent fails to hold up their end of the agreement.

While parenting plans may be created and modified by the mutual consent of a child’s parents, they must be approved by a court (750 ILCS 5/602.10). In the event of a case where parents cannot agree on the terms of their parenting plan, the court will make a ruling in line with the best interests of the child.

What Should Illinois Parenting Plans Include?

While every parenting plan will be unique to the individuals involved, certain basic issues should be addressed. Illinois law lists several provisions that every parenting plan must contain. In addition to those legal requirements, parents should give particular attention to the following practical issues.

Basic Daily Schedule

A basic schedule that indicates which parent the children are with on any given day. It also details how pickups and drop-offs between parents will be accomplished. This is the "backbone" of any parenting plan.

The plan should clearly state how much parenting time each parent will have. Illinois does not require every family to use a 50/50 schedule. Even when the split is close to 50/50, it can be helpful to designate a "home base" to promote stability for the children. It’s also helpful to outline certain rules that are consistent from one parent’s home to the other’s home. Consistent rules across the board tend to be better for children. It can also help prevent one parent from being undermined or taken advantage of.

Communication

Parenting plans should outline how parents will communicate with one another and the children. The parents should be clear on when phone calls are necessary and when emails or texts will work just as well. If parents are using a co-parenting app, the chosen app should be listed as the primary communication.

Special Occasions and Holidays

Details about how birthdays, holidays, and vacations will be spent prevent confusion and frustration on the part of both parents and children.

The Decision-Making Power of Each Parent

Some cases involve court-ordered decision-making by one parent or the other. However, many co-parents in Illinois share this responsibility. Clear details on when a parent can make an independent decision and when joint decision-making is necessary are vital. Co-parents should discuss healthcare, education, discipline, religious preferences, and extracurricular activities when deciding when independent decisions are acceptable.

School and Extracurricular Schedules

If children are school age, it’s important to note how they will get to and from school. The same is true of which parent takes the children to practices or other extracurricular activities. Other issues such as whether both parents will attend meetings with teachers can be addressed as well.  

Addressing these issues early fosters healthy communication between co-parents. It prevents small problems from becoming serious issues. It is often better to be as specific as possible in a parenting plan than to wait for vagueness in language to create disagreements or frustration.

What Other Issues Can Illinois Parents Address in a Parenting Plan?

Parenting plans can be highly specific to the parents’ and child’s life. Many parenting plans include rules regarding things like phones, privacy, social media, and driving (if the children are older). Unified decisions by parents about these common issues will help the child have consistency and avoid pitting one parent against the other.

Some co-parents don’t live close enough to each other for convenient, consistent hand-offs of the child. In these cases, a parenting plan may include provisions about issues like virtual visitation. Parents can use the plan to address the child’s contact with grandparents and other relatives during each parent’s parenting time. However, an independent request for court-ordered grandparent visitation is governed by separate Illinois law.

Contact a Geneva, IL Child Custody Lawyer Today

Putting together a comprehensive parenting plan can be challenging, even when you and your ex are on relatively good terms. If you have questions about drafting a parenting plan from scratch or modifying existing orders, consider reaching out to the knowledgeable team of Kane County, IL child custody attorneys at Serrano Hanson & Hurtado, LLC. We are fluent in Spanish and English and offer free consultations.

Call 630-844-8781 today to schedule your first appointment. Se habla español.