Source: Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO)
Jurisdiction: IL
Topic: divorce

Title: Getting a divorce (Illinois)
Heading: Children: parental responsibilities and parenting time

When there are children, the judge decides what Illinois now calls 'parental responsibilities,' the term that replaced 'custody.' It breaks into two parts. Parenting time is the schedule of when each parent has the child, and decision-making responsibility is about who makes the big calls on education, health, religion, and activities. The court wants parents to agree on a Parenting Plan themselves, and when they can't, the judge decides on what's in the best interests of the child.

Tags: children
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URL: https://www.illinoislegalaid.org/legal-information/getting-divorce
Retrieved: 2026-06-03
License: Facts summarized in our own words from public Illinois divorce guidance; this is not ILAO's text. See the source URL for ILAO's full guide. Legal information, not legal advice, so verify against the official source before relying on it.