How to Fill Out Illinois Joint Parenting Agreement / Allocation Judgment + FAQs

The Illinois Allocation Judgment of Parental Responsibilities is the court order that decides who makes major decisions for a child and when each parent has parenting time after a divorce, parentage case, or post-decree change. It replaced the old Joint Parenting Agreement on January 1, 2016, when Illinois rewrote its family code under Public Act 99-90, and any judge in Illinois now signs an Allocation Judgment instead of a JPA.

The form matters because it controls every school pickup, holiday, doctor visit, and disagreement until your child turns 18. According to the Illinois Courts Statistical Summary, Illinois circuit courts process more than 70,000 family-related cases each year, and parenting plan disputes are one of the top three reasons cases reopen after judgment. A poorly drafted Allocation Judgment leads to repeat trips to court, contempt motions, and lost parenting time.

Here is what this guide covers:

📜 The legal difference between the old Joint Parenting Agreement and today’s Allocation Judgment under 750 ILCS 5/602.10
✏️ How to fill out every section of the form line by line, with sample entries
👨‍👩‍👧 Three full real-world scenarios walked through start to finish
⚖️ How to file with the circuit clerk through eFileIL and what happens after the judge signs
🚫 The 10 most common mistakes parents make and how to avoid them

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

The Allocation Judgment of Parental Responsibilities is the final court order in any Illinois case where a minor child’s care must be decided by a judge. It is required in every divorce with children under the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, every parentage case under the Illinois Parentage Act of 2015, and every post-decree modification of an existing parenting order. The court will not close a case with minor children until this judgment is signed.

Before 2016, Illinois parents who shared decision-making signed a Joint Parenting Agreement, and parents who did not share were given sole custody with visitation. Public Act 99-90 erased the words “custody” and “visitation” from Illinois law because lawmakers wanted to reduce the win-lose framing of custody fights. Today every parent receives an allocation of two separate things: significant decision-making responsibilities and parenting time.

The plain-English explanation is that one document now answers two questions: who decides the big stuff, and who has the child on which days. The consequence of confusing the old terms with the new ones is that orders drafted with outdated language get rejected by judges or, worse, signed and then fought over later because nobody knows what “custody” means anymore. A real-world example: in 2019 a Cook County judge sent back a proposed agreement that used the word “visitation” five times because the term no longer exists in the statute. A common misconception is that “joint custody” still means something legally in Illinois, but it does not.

Filers include divorcing spouses, never-married parents establishing parentage, parents seeking to modify an existing order under 750 ILCS 5/610.5, and in rare cases a non-parent with standing such as a grandparent caregiver. Each county uses a slightly different template, and Cook County publishes its preferred shell on the Office of the Chief Judge website.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Gather everything before you open the form. Missing pieces are the number one reason parents have to redraft, and a redraft can delay a final judgment by 30 to 60 days in busy counties.

Certified copy of each child’s birth certificate. The judge needs the legal name and date of birth exactly as recorded with the Illinois Department of Public Health, and a mismatch between the form and the certificate can void the judgment.
Both parents’ full legal names and current addresses. The order must serve both parents, and a wrong address means the order cannot be enforced if a parent later moves.
Case number from the circuit court. Without the assigned case number you cannot file the document, because the clerk indexes every order to a single case.
A signed parenting class completion certificate. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 924 requires both parents to finish a four-hour course such as Children First in Cook County or Focus on Kids downstate before a judgment is entered.
Mediation report or waiver. Under Rule 905 most counties require parents to attempt mediation before contested issues go to trial.
A draft parenting time schedule. Build a calendar that covers regular weeks, school breaks, and holidays so you can transcribe it accurately.
Each child’s school, daycare, and medical provider information. The judgment usually lists each provider so both parents have access to records under FERPA and HIPAA.
Financial affidavit and any child support worksheet. Parenting time directly affects child support under the income shares formula at 750 ILCS 5/505, so the worksheet must match the parenting time you allocate.
Health insurance information for each child. The order must say who carries the insurance, and the omission of this line is a common reason judges send drafts back.
Government photo ID for both signers. A notary or judge will not accept signatures without ID.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

There is no single statewide PDF labeled “Allocation Judgment.” Instead, parents pull a template from one of three sources. The first is the Illinois Supreme Court Standardized Forms page, which hosts approved family law forms and parenting plan templates that work in every county. The second is the county circuit clerk for the court hearing your case; Cook County posts its template through the Domestic Relations Division, DuPage County through the 18th Judicial Circuit, and Lake County through the 19th Judicial Circuit. The third is Illinois Legal Aid Online, which offers a free guided interview that builds a county-ready document.

You can download the form as a fillable PDF or as a Word document. Most clerks now require the final filing through eFileIL, the statewide e-filing portal powered by Tyler Technologies’ Odyssey platform. Pro se filers without internet access can still file paper at the clerk’s counter under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 9(c).

The plain-English version of where to find the form is this: pick the template that matches your county, fill it on a computer, e-file it. The consequence of using the wrong county’s template is that a judge may strike the order because local case management orders sometimes require specific clauses. A real-world example: DuPage County requires a “transportation responsibility” paragraph that Cook County does not, and a Cook County form filed in Wheaton without that paragraph will get rejected. A misconception is that any Illinois template works in any county, but local rules vary.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Allocation Judgment Line by Line

The Allocation Judgment usually runs 12 to 25 pages depending on the county. Below is each section with the six elements every field needs: plain-English meaning, how to answer, a sample entry, a nuance, the most common mistake with consequence, and a misconception.

Caption: Court, County, and Case Number

The caption is the heading at the top of page one that tells the clerk which case this document belongs to. You write the judicial circuit, the county, the division (Domestic Relations or Family), the parties’ full legal names as petitioner and respondent, and the case number assigned at filing.

How to answer: copy the caption from a prior pleading in your case word for word. Example entry: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, DUPAGE COUNTY, ILLINOIS — IN RE: THE MARRIAGE OF MARIA LOPEZ, Petitioner, and DAVID LOPEZ, Respondent — Case No. 2025 D 001234.

A nuance is parentage cases use In re the Parentage of [Child’s Name] instead of In re the Marriage of. The most common mistake is transposing two digits in the case number, which causes the clerk to reject the e-filing or, worse, file it into the wrong case. A common misconception is that the caption is just decoration; in reality it is the legal anchor that links the order to the case file.

Section 1: Identification of the Children

This section lists every minor child the order covers. You enter each child’s full legal name, date of birth, and current primary residence.

How to answer: list children oldest to youngest, use the legal name from the birth certificate, and write the date as MM/DD/YYYY. Example entry: Sofia Lopez, DOB 04/12/2017, residing at 123 Oak Street, Naperville, IL 60540.

A nuance is that children turning 18 before the judgment is entered should be removed; the court loses jurisdiction over adult children except for limited non-minor support issues. The most common mistake is using a nickname like Sofie instead of Sofia, which can break enforcement when a school or doctor cross-checks records. A misconception is that only biological children belong here, but legally adopted children are treated the same.

Section 2: Allocation of Significant Decision-Making Responsibilities

This is the heart of the post-2016 reform. Under 750 ILCS 5/602.5, the court allocates four specific decision categories: education, health, religion, and extracurricular activities. You assign each category to one parent, both jointly, or one parent with input from the other.

How to answer: for each of the four categories, mark Joint, Mother only, or Father only, and add tie-breaker language if joint. Example entry: Education: Joint, with Mother as tie-breaker after a 7-day good-faith discussion. Health: Joint. Religion: Joint. Extracurricular activities: Father only.

A nuance is that “joint” does not mean equal time; it means both parents must agree before a major decision is made, and unresolved disputes go back to mediation or court. The most common mistake is leaving “religion” blank because parents do not want to fight about it, and the consequence is that the first religious dispute becomes a costly emergency motion. A misconception is that significant decision-making is the same as parenting time, but a parent can have very limited parenting time and still share full decision-making.

Section 3: Parenting Time Schedule — Regular Week

This section spells out the recurring weekly schedule. You write down which parent has the child each day and night, and the exchange times and locations.

How to answer: use a clear table or paragraph format that names every weekday and every overnight. Example entry: Mother has parenting time Monday after school through Wednesday morning drop-off at school. Father has parenting time Wednesday after school through Friday morning drop-off. Weekends alternate, beginning Friday after school and ending Monday morning drop-off.

A nuance is that “every other weekend” alone is no longer the default; judges expect a precise schedule that accounts for school year and summer differences. The most common mistake is failing to define what “weekend” means, and the consequence is parents arguing about whether weekend ends Sunday night or Monday morning. A misconception is that 50/50 parenting time is automatic; it is not, and it must be supported by the best-interest factors at 750 ILCS 5/602.7.

Section 4: Holiday and School Break Schedule

Holidays override the regular schedule. You list each holiday, who has the child in odd-numbered years, and who has the child in even-numbered years.

How to answer: cover at least Thanksgiving, winter break in two halves, spring break, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, each parent’s birthday, the child’s birthday, Independence Day, and Halloween. Example entry: Thanksgiving: Mother in odd years, Father in even years, from Wednesday 6:00 PM through Sunday 6:00 PM.

A nuance is that religious holidays such as Eid, Passover, Diwali, or Easter must be specifically named if they matter to the family, because a generic “religious holidays” line is unenforceable. The most common mistake is forgetting to define start and end times, and the consequence is a parent showing up at noon when the other expected 6:00 PM. A misconception is that the holiday schedule “pauses” the regular schedule automatically, but unless the order says so, a judge may rule the regular schedule controls.

Section 5: Summer Schedule

Summer often follows a different pattern than the school year because school drop-offs and pickups stop. You write the start date, end date, and rotation pattern for summer parenting time.

How to answer: define summer as the day after the last day of school through the day before the first day of the next school year, and pick a rotation such as week-on/week-off or two-on/two-off. Example entry: Summer parenting time runs from the day after school ends through the day before school resumes, with parents alternating weekly beginning with Mother in the first full week.

A nuance is each parent typically gets two uninterrupted vacation weeks, and the order should require notice (commonly 30 to 60 days) to lock in dates. The most common mistake is failing to say what happens when vacation weeks conflict; the consequence is a race to book flights. A misconception is that summer cancels the holiday schedule, but Independence Day and other summer holidays still apply.

Section 6: Right of First Refusal

The right of first refusal lets one parent care for the child when the other parent cannot, instead of using a babysitter. Under 750 ILCS 5/602.3 it is optional, but it is one of the most contested clauses in any agreement.

How to answer: state whether ROFR applies, the trigger time (commonly 4, 8, or 12 hours), notice required, and transportation responsibility. Example entry: If a parent cannot personally care for the child during their parenting time for a period exceeding 8 hours, that parent shall first offer the time to the other parent with at least 24 hours’ notice when possible.

A nuance is that grandparents and stepparents can be excluded from the trigger so a child can still see family. The most common mistake is setting the trigger too low (one or two hours), and the consequence is constant texting fights over short work meetings. A misconception is that ROFR is automatic in Illinois; it is not, and silence in the order means no ROFR.

Section 7: Transportation and Exchanges

This section names who drives, where exchanges happen, and what happens if a parent is late. Clear logistics keep parents out of court.

How to answer: identify the location (home, school, public meeting place), the responsible driver, and a late grace period. Example entry: Exchanges occur at the child’s school during the school year and at the McDonald’s at 100 Main Street, Naperville on non-school days. The parent receiving the child provides transportation. A 15-minute grace period applies before the missed time is forfeited.

A nuance is high-conflict cases often use a neutral location like a police station parking lot or a supervised exchange center. The most common mistake is leaving exchange times vague (after school without a clock time), and the consequence is hours of waiting and accusations. A misconception is that the parent with primary residential time must do all driving; the law allows any allocation the parents agree on.

Section 8: Communication With the Child

Parents stay connected during the other parent’s time through phone, video, and text. The order should set reasonable times and methods.

How to answer: pick a daily window and a method, and require the receiving parent to make the child available. Example entry: Each parent may have a video call with the child between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM each evening, not to exceed 20 minutes, using FaceTime or a similar app.

A nuance is teens often resist scheduled calls; the order can say “reasonable” calls instead of fixed times. The most common mistake is making calls open-ended, which leads to a parent calling 10 times a day; the consequence is judicial intervention. A misconception is that recording calls is allowed; under the Illinois eavesdropping statute it usually is not.

Section 9: Relocation Provisions

Illinois defines relocation under 750 ILCS 5/609.2. A parent in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will County must give 60 days’ written notice and obtain consent or court approval for any move more than 25 miles. Elsewhere the trigger is 50 miles in-state and any out-of-state move.

How to answer: restate the statutory rule and require written notice with the child’s proposed new address and the date of the move. Example entry: Any relocation as defined by 750 ILCS 5/609.2 requires 60 days’ written notice to the other parent and either written consent or a court order.

A nuance is the 25- and 50-mile thresholds are measured by driving distance from the current primary residence. The most common mistake is moving without notice; the consequence is contempt and possible reversal of primary parenting time. A misconception is that summer vacation moves are exempt, but any move of the child’s residence triggers the rule.

Section 10: Child Support and Insurance Cross-Reference

The Allocation Judgment is usually entered alongside a Uniform Order of Support, but it must reference health insurance and uncovered expenses. Under 750 ILCS 5/505.2 the order must say which parent provides insurance.

How to answer: identify the insurance carrier, the policyholder, and the percentage split for uninsured medical, dental, vision, and orthodontic costs. Example entry: Father shall maintain health insurance for the children through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Uncovered medical expenses are split 60% Father / 40% Mother in proportion to net income.

A nuance is that extracurricular fees, school supplies, and tutoring should each be addressed because the statute does not cover them by default. The most common mistake is leaving the percentage split blank; the consequence is fights over every doctor copay. A misconception is that child support automatically covers all medical costs, but it does not.

Section 11: Dispute Resolution

Most Allocation Judgments require mediation before either parent files a motion. This clause saves money and time.

How to answer: name a mediator or mediation service, set a timeline, and exclude emergencies. Example entry: Before filing any motion to enforce or modify, the parents shall attempt mediation through the Center for Conflict Resolution within 30 days of a written dispute notice, except in emergencies involving child safety.

A nuance is mediation is waived if there is a documented history of domestic violence under 750 ILCS 5/602.10(c). The most common mistake is naming a mediator who later refuses the case; the consequence is delay. A misconception is that mediation forces a settlement; it does not, and either parent can walk away.

Section 12: Signatures and Notarization

Both parents sign the proposed Allocation Judgment, and the judge signs the final order. Some counties require notarization, others accept e-signatures under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138.

How to answer: sign in blue or black ink (paper) or apply a verified e-signature (eFileIL), print your name, write the date, and have a notary acknowledge if required. Example entry: /s/ Maria Lopez — MARIA LOPEZ — 05/21/2026.

A nuance is the judge’s signature line should be left blank for the court to complete. The most common mistake is signing before mediation or parenting class is finished; the consequence is the clerk holding the file. A misconception is that a notary’s stamp makes the order final, but only the judge’s signature does.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1: Maria and David Lopez — Divorcing With Two School-Age Children in DuPage County

Form Section	What Maria and David Enter
Caption	18th Judicial Circuit, DuPage County — In re Marriage of Lopez — Case No. 2025 D 001234
Children	Sofia Lopez, DOB 04/12/2017; Mateo Lopez, DOB 09/03/2019
Decision-Making	Joint on education, health, religion, extracurriculars; Mother tie-breaker on education
Regular Schedule	2-2-5-5 rotation alternating weekly
Holidays	Thanksgiving alternates; winter break split at noon December 26
Summer	Week-on/week-off, two uninterrupted vacation weeks each with 45-day notice
Right of First Refusal	Trigger: 8 hours, 24-hour notice, excludes grandparents
Relocation	Statutory 25-mile rule under 750 ILCS 5/609.2 restated

Scenario 2: Jasmine Carter and Marcus Reed — Never-Married Parents Establishing Parentage in Cook County

Form Section	What Jasmine and Marcus Enter
Caption	Cook County Circuit Court, Domestic Relations — In re Parentage of A.R. — Case No. 2026 D 079456
Children	Aaliyah Reed, DOB 06/22/2022
Decision-Making	Joint on health and education; Mother only on religion; Joint on extracurriculars
Regular Schedule	Father every Tuesday and Thursday after daycare to 7:30 PM, alternating weekends Friday 5 PM to Sunday 5 PM
Holidays	Mother’s Day with Mother every year; Father’s Day with Father every year; major holidays alternate
Summer	Same as school year plus one continuous week with each parent
Communication	Daily 7:00 PM video call window, 15 minutes max
Child Support	Calculated under 750 ILCS 5/505 income shares, Father provides BCBS coverage

Scenario 3: Janet and Robert Pierce — Long-Marriage Divorce With High Conflict in Will County

Form Section	What Janet and Robert Enter
Caption	12th Judicial Circuit, Will County — In re Marriage of Pierce — Case No. 2025 D 003311
Children	Ethan Pierce, DOB 11/14/2014; Lily Pierce, DOB 02/02/2016
Decision-Making	Mother sole on education, health, religion; Joint on extracurriculars
Regular Schedule	Father alternate weekends Friday 6 PM to Sunday 6 PM plus Wednesday dinner 5–8 PM
Holidays	Strict odd/even alternation with named start and end clock times
Exchanges	Joliet Police Department lobby for all exchanges
Communication	One scheduled call per evening, 15 minutes, recorded only with court permission
Dispute Resolution	Mediation through 12th Circuit Family Mediation Program before any motion

How to File the Completed Form

You file the Allocation Judgment in the same circuit court where the divorce or parentage case is pending. Most filings now go through eFileIL under Illinois Supreme Court Order M.R. 18368, which made e-filing mandatory in civil cases statewide in 2018.

Online (eFileIL): Log in, select your case, upload the proposed Allocation Judgment as a PDF, choose document type Proposed Order, pay the e-filing service fee (usually $0 to $5.95 depending on provider), and submit. The clerk reviews within one to three business days, and a judge signs at the next prove-up or status hearing. Your proof of filing is the file-stamped PDF returned by Odyssey.

In person: Bring two paper copies plus the original to the circuit clerk’s domestic relations counter. The clerk file-stamps both copies, returns one to you, and routes the original to the judge’s chambers. There is no separate filing fee for a proposed order in an existing case, but Cook County’s filing fee schedule applies to underlying petitions. Payment is cash, check, money order, or card.

By mail: A few counties still accept mailed proposed orders for self-represented parents under Rule 9(c) hardship exemptions. Send by certified mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope, and expect 7 to 14 days for the file-stamped copy to return. Keep the certified mail receipt as proof of filing.

Fax: Fax filing is no longer accepted in most Illinois counties as of 2020. Confirm with your local clerk before relying on it.

What Happens After You File

After the proposed Allocation Judgment is filed, the judge reviews it at a prove-up hearing or status date. If both parents agree and the parenting class certificates are on file, the judge usually signs the same day. The signed order is then entered on the docket through the Re:SearchIL portal and emailed to both parties’ service contacts.

Once entered, the order is enforceable immediately. A parent who violates it can be brought back on a Petition for Rule to Show Cause, and contempt remedies include fines, makeup parenting time, and attorney’s fees under 750 ILCS 5/508(b). Schools, doctors, and daycare providers should each receive a copy so they know which parent has authority for which decisions.

Modification later requires either a substantial change in circumstances or a two-year wait, depending on what is being changed, under 750 ILCS 5/610.5. Minor parenting-time tweaks can be made without proving substantial change, but allocation of decision-making generally cannot be modified for two years absent serious endangerment.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Using “custody” or “visitation.” These terms were removed from Illinois law in 2016, and judges reject orders that still use them.
Leaving religion blank. Silence creates the next fight, often during the child’s first communion, bar mitzvah, or Eid celebration.
Vague exchange times. Words like after school without a clock time lead to no-shows and contempt motions.
Forgetting holiday clock times. A holiday that says only Thanksgiving Day causes confusion about overnights.
Mismatching child support and parenting time. The income shares calculator is sensitive to overnights; a wrong overnight count means a wrong support amount.
Skipping the relocation paragraph. Without it, the first move triggers an emergency motion.
Setting an unrealistically short ROFR trigger. One- or two-hour triggers cause constant fights over routine errands.
Failing to file the parenting class certificate. The judge will not sign without it under Rule 924.
Wrong case number on the caption. The clerk rejects the e-filing or, worse, files into the wrong case.
Signing before mediation is complete. Many counties require a mediation report before entry.
Naming a specific mediator who is unavailable. Use a service or pool, not one person.
Forgetting the insurance carrier. Pharmacies and ERs need the policyholder’s name and group number.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

Use the exact statutory categories education, health, religion, extracurricular activities because judges scan for them.
Spell out clock times for every exchange and every holiday because vagueness is the root of conflict.
Reference statutes by full citation (for example, 750 ILCS 5/602.7) because it shows the judge you did the work.
Attach a parenting plan exhibit if the form is short on space, because comprehensive detail prevents return motions.
Keep a clean signed copy in a fireproof location because you will reference it for the next decade.
Share a copy with each child’s school and pediatrician because they enforce who can pick up and consent.

Don’ts

Don’t use the word visitation, because it does not exist in Illinois law anymore.
Don’t leave the relocation clause out, because the statute applies whether you mention it or not and silence breeds disputes.
Don’t set a 50/50 schedule just because it sounds fair, because it must serve the child’s best interest under the statutory factors.
Don’t sign under pressure at the courthouse hallway, because once entered, modification is hard for two years.
Don’t draft your own from scratch if you can avoid it, because county templates already account for local rules.
Don’t forget to update beneficiary designations and emergency contacts after the order is signed, because the order alone does not change them.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Pros of filing pro se

You save legal fees, which average $3,000 to $7,500 in Illinois uncontested cases according to Illinois State Bar Association surveys.
You control the timeline rather than waiting on an attorney’s calendar.
You learn your case inside out, which helps later if disputes arise.
Free guided interviews like Illinois Legal Aid Online’s parenting plan tool lower the skill barrier.
You avoid the friction of a third-party drafter rephrasing what you and the other parent already agreed on.

Cons of filing pro se

A single missed clause (relocation, ROFR, insurance) can cost more later than an attorney would have charged upfront.
Judges hold pro se filers to the same standard as attorneys under Holzrichter v. Yorath, so technical mistakes still hurt.
Mediation services, parenting class fees, and filing costs still apply.
High-conflict cases almost always require legal help to draft enforceable language.
Without legal training, it is easy to confuse joint decision-making with equal parenting time and lock in the wrong arrangement.

FAQs

Is the Joint Parenting Agreement still valid in Illinois?

Yes. Existing JPAs entered before January 1, 2016 remain enforceable, but any modification today is entered as an Allocation Judgment under the rewritten 750 ILCS 5/602.10.

Do I have to use the word “custody” in the Allocation Judgment?

No. Illinois removed custody and visitation from the statute, and judges expect significant decision-making and parenting time instead.

Can both parents sign the order without a lawyer?

Yes. Pro se parents sign and file their own Allocation Judgment, but the judge must still review it for the child’s best interest under 750 ILCS 5/602.7.

How long does the judge take to sign?

Yes, signing is fast in agreed cases — usually the same day at prove-up if the parenting class certificates and proposed order are filed in advance.

Do I write “joint custody” in Section 2?

No. Write Joint significant decision-making instead, and specify each of the four statutory categories separately.

Can I leave the religion box blank if we don’t practice a religion?

No. Mark Joint or assign it to one parent, because a blank box becomes the first dispute when grandparents push baptism, communion, or other observances.

What date format does the form require?

Yes, MM/DD/YYYY is the standard across Illinois circuit courts, and using DD/MM/YYYY can cause clerk rejection.

Do I list stepchildren in Section 1?

No. Only legal children of the parties (biological or adopted) belong in the children’s identification section.

Can I e-sign under eFileIL?

Yes. Illinois Supreme Court Rule 138 allows verified e-signatures, and most counties accept the /s/ signature block on e-filed proposed orders.

Is mediation required before filing?

Yes in most counties for contested allocation issues under Rule 905, but it is waived when domestic violence is documented.

Does the order automatically include child support?

No. Child support is a separate Uniform Order of Support, but the Allocation Judgment must reference health insurance and uninsured expense splits.

Can I modify the schedule without going back to court?

No. Informal changes are not enforceable; only a court-entered modified order under 750 ILCS 5/610.5 controls if a dispute later arises.

Do I need a notary to sign?

No in most counties for e-filed proposed orders, but some judges still require a notarized signature block, so check your local rule.

What if my child turns 18 during the case?

No more allocation is needed for that child, because the court loses jurisdiction over parenting time at age 18 under Illinois law.

How many copies should I keep?

Yes, keep at least three: one for your records, one for the child’s school, and one for the pediatrician, because each may need to verify authority.

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