4 Signs It Might Be Time to Modify Your Parenting Plan

 Posted on May 21,2024 in Family Law

Parents who get divorced in Illinois are required to submit a parenting plan to the court. A parenting plan is a detailed plan of action for how the parents will co-parent their child together. It includes such details as:

• Who has the majority of parenting time, or physical custody

• Parenting time schedules

• Transportation arrangements for the child

• How the parents will divide decision-making responsibilities

• How the parents will communicate with the child

Once a parenting plan is approved by a court, it becomes legally binding. If either parent wants to make any changes to the plan, he or she can ask the court to modify the parenting plan. A court will want to hear a good reason why the plan should be modified, however, which is why it is important to use an attorney when requesting post-decree modifications.

Here are four signs that it may be time to modify your parenting plan.

Your Child Has Difficulty Adjusting

Life after divorce is hard on all children, especially when it comes to splitting time between parents. It is normal for children to have some difficulty getting used to a parenting schedule. Shuttling between two parents and school can be physically and emotionally draining.

Some children, however, have it harder than others. If you see your child is not making any progress in adjusting to the new arrangements, it may be time to discuss a new schedule with your co-parent. Once you agree on a new arrangement, have your attorney submit it to the court.

A Parent Needs to Relocate

Sometimes a parent needs to relocate due to work or other factors. If that parent has the majority of parenting time and the new address is more than 25 miles away from his or her current home, the parenting plan may need to be modified.

Your Child Suffers a Disability

As children grow older, they can develop certain disorders and disabilities. If your child suffers a disability, it can affect the parenting plan. Even something as common as a learning disability might mean that your child needs to attend learning programs outside of school hours, which will require adjustments to the parenting schedule.

Changes in Employment

Changes in employment are common, but even small changes can make large impacts on a parenting plan. If a parent’s shifts are extended or changed, for example, that can throw the entire parenting schedule off. It would therefore be a good idea to talk to an attorney about asking the court to modify your parenting plan.

Contact a Kane County, IL Parenting Plan Attorney

 Courts take parenting plans very seriously and are reluctant to modify them without a compelling reason. The right Geneva, Illinois parenting plan lawyer, however, will know how to make a persuasive modification argument to the judge. At Serrano Hanson, we have a track record of making compelling arguments for parenting plan modifications that benefit our clients. Call 630-844-8781 to discuss your parenting plan and how we can improve it.