When parents cannot agree on parenting times, the Court has to make the decision of who will spend what time with the child. To do so, the Court will look at 17 factors, which are found at 750 ILCS 5/602.7(b), and craft a parenting plan that it believes will meet the best interest of the children. The 17 factors are not weighted equally, and the court will consider each factor on a case-by-case basis. However, since a discussion of each of the 17 factors would literally be 20-50 pages long, they are rearranged into topics, of which the first one is the importance of cooperation.
The Importance of Cooperation
One of the most important factors that the court will consider when allocating parenting time is the parents' ability to cooperate. The court wants to make sure that the parents are able to communicate effectively and that they are able to work together to make decisions about the child's upbringing. If the parents are unable to cooperate, it can make it difficult to create a parenting plan that works for everyone.
Studies show that parents that cooperate to raise their children have less conflict and generally have more positive feelings about their parenting abilities. The children in such relationships see positive role models and begin modeling that behavior for themselves. The children in cooperative relationship also report higher feelings of love, security and self worth.
This does not mean that one parent has to always give in to the other. Instead, parents should put aside feelings of animosity and actually consider that the other person has valid inputs into the parenting dynamic. In doing so, they should focus on always answering the question of "what's best for my child" rather than asking "what's best for me" or "how do I get my way?"
There are a few things that parents can do to improve their ability to cooperate. Here are a few tips for improving cooperation between parents:
Cooperation between parents is essential for creating a positive parenting environment for their child. When parents are able to cooperate, it can make it easier to create a parenting plan that meets the needs of the child, reduce conflict and stress, and make it easier for the parents to communicate with each other about their child. If you are able to cooperate with your soon-to-be-ex, I can help you craft your parenting plan so that you can remain in control of defining your parenting time. If you are unable to cooperate, a judge will decide when you see your children. If you are ready to put your parenting plan into action and are willing to cooperate, reach out to my office. I can take your parenting time ideas and create your parenting plan so that you can move on without a Judge deciding where your child will be on any given night.